Thoughts on Church Membership

When one becomes a member of a local church, he (or she) enters into a covenant agreement with an organized group of Christ’s people.  By this act of commitment, he publicly professes his faith in Christ and his commitment to Christ’s Bride, the body of Christ, the local church.  Being a “churchless Christian” is not a Biblical concept.  Acts 2:47 says, “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”  Conversion in the New Testament is followed by both baptism by immersion and participation in a local church.  Acts 2:41-47 demonstrates that this participation is a full commitment with active involvement.  Membership means commitment.

            When a person joins a particular church, he (or she) makes the commitment to use his (or her) spiritual gifts for the edification of the body and the extension of Christ’s kingdom as part of the local church (Eph. 4:1-16).  He also promises to attend the services set for the assembly in obedience to Hebrews 10:24, to give of his resources (I Cor. 16:1-2), and to pray for those in the church fellowship as well as the various ministries of this particular church (Col. 4:2-3).  Each member agrees to submit to the church’s leadership under Christ (Heb. 13:7, 17) and to admonish and encourage other believers in the fellowship (I Thes. 5:14).  He formally declares his purpose and desire to grow spiritually, to live in a godly fashion, and to be accountable to this assembly of Christ’s people for what he believes and how he lives.  Many churches follow the Biblical pattern of having new members formally sign the covenant agreement they are making upon joining the church.  “Now in view of all this we make and sign a binding covenant” (Neh. 9:38; see chapters’ 9-11).  Other churches have new members verbally make a commitment in front of the body gathered for worship (Ezra 10:3-5; Neh. 5:12; 13:25).  Some include both of these patterns of initiating a covenant-commitment as part of the membership process.  Some of our Baptist forefathers died for the principle of regenerate church membership.  This is one of the essential things of being a Baptist, and until we operate like this, we cease to be Baptist.

            Furthermore, churches, like all individual Christians, must follow the laws of the land (I Peter 2:12-17).  The laws that govern organizations and voting privileges must be followed as long as they do not contradict the Scriptures.  With this in mind, a person who becomes a member will be allowed to vote in church business meetings once he (or she) becomes eighteen years of age according to N.C. law.  Likewise, voting is for the membership alone.  However, one who is part of the fellowship but has not formally taken the commitment step of membership, may express his (or her) views and concerns to the leadership, but may not vote in the business meetings.

            Every Biblical covenant has two parts.  The member’s commitment has just been described above.  But the new member is not the only one with responsibilities upon joining a church.  The elders and deacons also make a similar commitment to each church member.  Each new member is assigned an elder and deacon to minister to his family and to be his person of contact in the church family.  The elders also promise to teach and instruct the whole counsel of truth from the Word of God to each member who will gather with the body.  They purpose to demonstrate by example how to live a godly life.  They agree to encourage, admonish, exhort, and serve each person in the local body of Christ.  They further commit to feed, lead, protect, and care for each person in the membership.  They agree to train and equip each member to do the work of the ministry that God has gifted and called each one to do.  They commit to follow the pattern in Scripture (Acts 6:2-4, Eph. 4:11-16) of teaching and equipping members rather than doing the work that the member is called to do by Christ Himself.

            The most important qualification of being a church member is being born again.  Only one who has truly believed and embraced Christ and the gospel, has repented of his sin, and has submitted to the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior should seek to join a local church.  Have you genuinely done this?  Unfortunately, millions of church members are headed for hell, fully trusting in their church membership to get them into the door of heaven.  However, it will not get them into heaven (John 14:6).  Examine yourself to make sure you are truly converted.  2 Cor. 13:5 commands you to “examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless indeed you are disqualified” [or fail the test]). 

            Of course, a seeker or even a skeptic should be welcome at all worship services and fellowship meetings, but his greatest need is to first make a commitment to the Lord Christ and to the gospel.  Put first things first.  Once he is truly converted, he can be baptized and join a local church.  Conversion and commitment to Christ’s body do go together, but conversion must always be first (Acts 2:47).  Just like an infant must be born before you can give him a bath, so a person must be born again before they can be baptized and then they can join a local church.  To trust in church membership rather than Jesus Christ is not only dangerous, but it is also a sin.  This is because you have made a false god out of the church membership in which you are now trusting to save you.  However, the false god of church membership cannot save you.  Only the Lord Jesus Christ can save and deliver you from your obstinate will and your love of sin and its power and ultimate punishment in your life.  Many church members will say on the Day of Judgment, Lord, Lord, why can’t we come in heaven’s gate?  And Jesus will say, “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. {22} Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' {23} Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you who practice lawlessness!'” (Matt. 7:21-23)