Normally John Stryder goes straight to the sanctuary when we get to church Sunday mornings. I justify this by telling myself that he’s getting “socialized,” but lately he has started mimicking speech so I wanted him to come into the sanctuary for the music this morning. After our church finished singing I took him to the nursery and saw one of my good friends coming into church late. We got to talking and eventually came to the subject of church membership. I’ve always found church membership crucial to working out my faith. Yet others may find themselves asking the same question as Charles de Lint, “Why did men worship in churches, locking themselves away in the dark, when the world lay beyond its doors in all its real glory?”
The De-emphasis of Church Membership
Leadership Weekly recently polled readers about the importance. The results were surprising to me. While 38% said attendees were frequently urged to join, 34% said the membership appeal was occasionally given, and 28% said their church placed little or no emphasis on membership. This may be because the church has chosen to take a casual, “come as you are” attitude. People in the United States have become antagonistic towards commitment and accountability. In addition, there is a concern that if churches create a barrier at the front door, not as many people will enter. Mega churches with party atmospheres are emphasized today. However, by not emphasizing membership we may have a wide-open front door, but we also have a wide-open back door. Numerical growth is really not helped by deemphasizing membership. In fact this may lead people to see church membership as the same as belonging to other community organizations.
So what is Church membership?
Before I begin this section I want to emphasize that church membership does NOT equate salvation. A person can go to a church and not be saved. Likewise a person can be saved and not go to church. As Eric Lane states, ‘Church membership is not essential in the way that faith in Christ is. Joining a church will not make us any more saved than we were before. Non-members who are believers are no less precious in the Lord’s eyes than those who are members. Heaven is no more sure for the latter than the former. The main thrust of the Bible is to bring us to faith in Christ. About this there must be no trace of doubt, whatever else is left obscure. On some matters there is room for debate, but not on the way of salvation. So do not be surprised if you cannot see membership as clearly as you can salvation. Not all things in Scripture are presented with the same degree of dogmatism’ (I Want to be a Church Member, Bryntirion, Bridgend, Wales: Evangelical Press, 1992), pp. 9-10.
So is church membership just another way to fill my time?
No! Church membership is crucial to the life of a believer because it provides ways for believers to find their spiritual identity, work out their faith, and where they can exercise his spiritual giftedness (1 Corinthians 12:14-19).
In short, church membership is a commitment to unite with an identifiable spiritual body of believers who have joined together geographically for specific, divinely ordained purposes. In addition there are a number of scriptures that talk about church membership.
- It enables believers to receive instruction from God’s Word
1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2 - It provides a time of fellowship for believers and is the family of God
Mark 3:33-34; 1 John 5:1; Matthew 6:9 - It equips the saints for the work of the ministry
Eph. 4:7–12 - The church is the building of God
Matthew 16:18; 1 Peter 2:4-5; Ephesians 2:19-22 - The church is the flock of God
John 10; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:1-4 - The church provides a place for people to serve and edify one another
Rom. 12:3–8; 1 Cor. 12:4–31; 1 Pet. 4:10–11 - It provides a place to participate in ordinances—baptism and communion
Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38–42 - Christ loved and died for the church
Matthew 16:13-20 - Every epistle was written to a local church. In the case where they written to individuals—such as Philemon, Timothy and Titus—these individuals were in key roles of leadership in churches.
- The church provides a place for Christian discipline and accountability
Matthew 18: 18-20, Hebrews 13: 17, 1 Cor. 5:1–13, 1 Tim. 5:20; Titus 3:10–11
Can’t you do these things by simply attending a church and not necessarily becoming a member?
Not all of these benefits are available to church attendees.
For example, church discipline is reserved only for members. Churches can be held liable for slander if they discipline attendees who did agree to the church’s bylaws. In addition, many churches will not let attendees serve or teach, especially when children are involved, due to liability. Finally, many churches only allow members to participate in the ordnances.
Conclusion
In a world full of non commitment, church membership emphasizes your commitment to a body of believers. Joining a local church is a public statement that you feel that the love of Jesus Christ is expressed through His local congregation.
In the words of Craig Allen Myers
Church membership says:
“I am here—in this local body.”
“I will be here—to worship and to serve in this local body.”
“I will serve—gladly when called upon in this local body.”
“I will pray—that Jesus Christ will be glorified in this local body.”
“I will give—of my time, talents, and possessions to build up this local body.”
“I agree—in the doctrinal or confessional stands of this congregation.”
“I agree—in the practices of this local congregation.”
“I agree—in the essential program of this local congregation.”
Amanda,
I agree with the main thrust of your post, but the numbered list doesn’t add to the point for me. Most of the items would be true for a faithful attender who isn’t a member. In some of the points, (e.g. 4, 5, & 8) I think you have confused local congregation with the global body of Christ, or Church Universal. Some of these do add to your argument, and those might include # 7, 9, 10.
There is another problem with membership, and that is that too often people can be “members” who do not experience many of the things you mention. Membership is not the same as fellowship, service, and the like. And many churches have open communion, so even the ordinances (assuming one is baptized) are not an issue for an attender. In some churches, they specifically do not have a “membership” because they want to emphasize “fellowship”. You are either fellowshipping, worshipping, praying, and serving together, or you are not. Signing or not signing a piece of paper isn’t the issue.
Now genuine membership, of course, should be more than signing, and a person who does not fellowship, worship, pray, and serve with the local body should be excluded from that membership. As long as membership can be constructed to ensure participation, it is fine, but often this is not the case.
Still, I am firm believer in being committed a local body.
Amanda,
I agree with you on your points about church membership and enjoy your post.