Does Membership Matter?

When most Christians today are asked to define what it means to “go to church,” rarely are they able to give a biblical answer. Much of what is offered as a reply revolves around programs or activities that occur within the church building. Even more alarming is that pews are often filled once a week for “services as usual” where the passive gaze at the committed. However, a real, vibrant, biblical church should never be a place where its members sit in isolation allowing the deeds of the few to serve the needs of the many. Rather, the true church is an assembly of believers called out from the world around them so that they might be educated in the things of God and united for service.

Of course, belonging to a church is not related to salvation, for nowhere does the Scripture teach that church membership makes any contribution to one’s own personal redemption. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, without any mention of church attendance or membership.

So why “go to church” or seek to belong to a local congregation? The greatest reasons are found in God’s Word, of course. And even a casual look at Heb. 10:19-25 reveals that those who truly belong to Christ, who have been granted salvation through Him, are commanded to use their spiritual gifts to encourage other believers and stimulate them to love and good deeds. But it goes far beyond a command, because the Holy Spirit gives believers a desire to learn more of Christ and grow in Him, and this growth is assisted through a purposeful commitment to a biblical church. When we recall that the local church is but a visible representation of Christ’s body, then membership also becomes a way for Christ’s followers to acknowledge their accountability to the Head of the Church.

Membership at Elim Baptist Church is meant to be an avenue for energetic, enthusiastic and edifying involvement. We are challenged biblically by our pastor-teacher to live in right relationship to others for the sake of Christ. We believe that authentic biblical ministry is to the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus, and therefore demands active participation from each member, flowing from a life fully devoted to Him.

So, what is church membership?

Church membership is a commitment to unite with an identifiable spiritual body of believers who have joined together geographically for specific, divinely ordained purposes. These purposes include:

What is the biblical basis for church membership?

Actually, Scripture nowhere commands, “You must join a church.’ However, a biblical rationale for church membership is consistently found throughout the New Testament. In fact, this rationale can be found most clearly as we consider four brief topics: (1) the existence of church government, (2) the exercise of church discipline, (3) the example of the early church, and (4) the exhortation to mutual edification.

The Existence of Church Government

The consistent pattern throughout the New Testament is that each local body of believers is overseen by a plurality of God-called men known as “elders.’ The specific duties given to these elders presuppose a clearly defined group of church members who are under their care. This is because, among other things, these men are responsible before God to:

Additionally, the Bible clearly teaches that the elders will give an account to God for the individuals allotted to their charge (Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:3). These responsibilities are certainly made easier if there is a distinguishable, mutually understood membership in the local church. This enables the elders to shepherd the people over which they will give an account to God for they know who they are. Elders ought to be able to define the members allotted to their care, for the purpose of providing proper oversight.

The wording of the Heb. passage (“Obey your leaders”) indicates that the elders of a given local church are not responsible for the spiritual wellbeing of every individual that visits the church or who attends sporadically. Rather, they are primarily responsible to shepherd those who have submitted themselves to the care and the authority of the elders. Certainly one way this may be accomplished is through church membership.

There is another side to this argument as well. As we have noted, Heb. 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders, and submit to them.” The one who refuses to join a local church and entrust himself to the care and authority of the elders has no leaders. For him, obedience to Heb. 13:17 is impossible. To put it simply, this verse implies that every believer knows to whom he must submit, which, in turn, assumes a clearly defined church membership.

The Exercise of Church Discipline

In Matt. 18:15-17, Jesus outlines the way in which the church is to seek the restoration of a believer who has fallen into sin—a process commonly known as church discipline. The way in which Elim Baptist Church seeks to live out this process is outlined in our church constitution and documents. In short, the teaching of the Savior on this necessary element in the life of His Church is:

  • First, when someone knows a person’s sin, he is to be confronted privately by that individual (v. 15).
  • If he refuses to repent, that individual is to take one or two other believers along to confront him again (v. 16).
  • If the sinning individual refuses to listen to the two or three, they are then to tell it to the church (v. 17a). The church is to call the person to repentance.
  • If there is still no repentance, the final step is to put that person out of the assembly (v. 18; cf. 1 Cor. 5:1-13).

The exercise of church discipline according to Matt. 18 and other passages (1 Cor. 5:1-13; 1 Tim. 5:20; Titus 3:10-11) certainly presupposes that the elders know who their members are. For example, the elders of Elim Baptist Church have neither the responsibility nor the authority to discipline a member of any other local church. The widespread lack of understanding of church membership may make it necessary for our elders to discipline not only formal members but also those who regularly fellowship at Elim Baptist Church. However, the Bible’s teaching on church discipline seems to assume a form of church membership.

The Example of the Early Church

In the early church, coming to Christ meant coming to the church. There was no distinction made between Christ’s followers and the church, because every believer was part of the church. The idea of experiencing salvation without belonging to a local church is foreign to the New Testament. When individuals repented and believed in Christ, they were baptized and added to the visible church (Acts 2:41,47; 5:14; 16:5).

Not only is this plainly stated in the verses referenced, but we also see this truth through the New Testament as a whole:

  • More than living out a private commitment to Christ, this meant joining together formally with the other believers in that local assembly and devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer (Acts 2:42).
  • The epistles of the New Testament were written to churches, and in cases where they were written to individuals—such as Philemon, Timothy and Titus—these individuals were in key roles of leadership in churches.
  • The existence of the epistles themselves demonstrates that the Lord assumed that believers would be in gathered assemblies, not existing independently. The epistles were written as letters to be read aloud to the gathered church when it met.
  • There is also indication in the New Testament that just as there was a list of widows eligible for financial support (1 Tim. 5:9), there was also a list of members that grew as people were saved (Acts 2:41,47; 5:14; 16:5).
  • When a believer left a given city for another, the church of the city he was leaving often wrote a letter of commendation to the church of which he would now become a member (Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1; Col. 4:10; cf. 2 Cor. 3:1-2).

The Exhortation to Mutual Edification

The New Testament teaches that the Church is the body of Christ, and that every member of the body is called to a life devoted to Christian ministry. In other words, Scripture exhorts all believers to edify the other members by practicing the “one another” commands of the New Testament (e.g., Heb. 10:24-25) and exercising their spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-7; 1 Pet. 4:10-11). This sort of mutual edification can only take place in the context of the corporate body of Christ, and exhortations to this kind of ministry presuppose that believers have committed themselves to other believers in a specific, local assembly. Church membership is a formal way to make this commitment.

What are the responsibilities of membership?

Living out the commitment that one makes as a member of Elim Baptist Church involves several responsibilities: exemplifying a godly lifestyle in the community, exercising your spiritual gifts in faithful service, contributing financially to the work of the ministry, giving admonition in love and receiving the same with meekness, and faithfully participating in corporate worship.

Of course, the most basic responsibilities, the nuts and bolts of church membership that are expected, occur on the Lord‘s Day. These principles are the fundamentals that will enable a person to become a more effective tool in the hands of the Master. And nowhere is this collection of principles clearer than in the tenth chapter of the book of Hebrews.

  • The principle of being present: “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some” Regular attendance is one of the most fundamental ways to serve one another since it requires a tangible commitment to the command of Scripture, reflecting love for God and His people. Absenteeism is a spiritual malady that spreads to every area of the church’s life, affecting the ability of members to serve and to be shepherded.
  • The principle of being active: “let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works” Real ministry involves both ministering as well as being ministered to, and that cannot happen in a vacuum. Fellowship is essential. When we are together, it is the sharing of our common life, the building of friendships, and the bearing of burdens, mutual care, and mutual prayer that reflect the life of the church.
  • The principle of being prepared: “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” Preparation is an essential element in every avenue of life, regardless of the task. However, many do not consider the crucial aspect of preparation in the matter of worship. Acceptable worship does not happen spontaneously. One must come to worship with a sincere heart. Acceptable worship is Christian worship, and that means it must be what Christ has commended. Of course, the “true heart” the author of Heb. is speaking of in 10:22 is a doctrinally true heart. Many people today worship God in the manner in which they believe is right, but it is not Christian worship. Jesus told the Samaritan woman that worshipping that which she did not know is unacceptable worship, because the Father seeks worshippers who worship in “spirit and truth.” True worship requires truth to be taught and held. This requires preparation.
  • The principle of being pure: “with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” Alongside the tool of being prepared is the tool of purity. The phrase referenced from Heb. 10 is speaking of coming to worship in the assembly with a pure heart. We come prepared to worship when our hearts are both true and clean. Then we can draw near to the Lord with great assurance because of what Christ has done for us. We must be committed to drawing lines when it comes to personal holiness and purity, considering carefully what influences we allow for our children and ourselves.

The author of Heb. delivers an exhortation to individuals and the church at large to persevere in the Christian life of worship in the assembly. The Scriptures teach that Christians are to persevere both individually and corporately. They are to use their words and deeds to encourage and comfort others in the body to persevere with them as they wait for the Lord’s return. And this stimulation, exhortation, and encouragement are all designed and commanded to take place in the assembly of the redeemed.

No member of Elim Baptist Church lives a life of perfection but the life of every member should be directed toward the Lord Jesus Christ. Church membership is not a mystical rite that acts as to lift you to a higher plane. It is a commitment to love the body of Christ in various practical ways, and to worship Him in spirit and truth as He has commanded us. It is commitments to both serve others in the body and to be served by others! The goal of Elim Baptist Church membership is that each person might fulfill the works of service, which God has prepared for him, for the building of the body of Christ (Eph. 2:10; 4:12).

Posted on August 8th, 2007 by Pastor Larry
Filed under: Pastor's Occasional Papers

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