Balancing the Commands to Love our Neighbor and to Assemble with Believers

"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near" (Heb. 10:24-25 NASB).

I have shared concerns about obeying God’s command regarding assembly, it appears to me that most believers my age whom I have talked to do not understand that a phone, or virtual connect, or watching a livestream does not obey the commands of Heb 10:24-25 or the twenty some one-another commands[i] in the New Testament.[ii] It is impossible to obey the one-another command in Rom 16:16 without being in close personal proximity to another believer. Heb 10:24 has three non-optional commands for a follower of Jesus. These are imperatives in the original language. My parents’ and grandparents’ generations understood the vital importance of physically assembling with groups of believers. This understanding is missing from our current culture and generation due to of our constant adaptation to changing technology, ignorance of biblical theology, and ignorance of the vital importance of the local church. Livestream is helpful when one is providentially hindered from worship. He can mentally benefit from the teaching and connect with a speaker on an electronic non-personal level. However, it is not the same as being physically in someone’s presence. Just like a man and a woman cannot get married on Skype or Zoom and then consummate the marriage by virtual contact—technology cannot fully bridge the gap. This would also include kissing the bride after the pronouncement of the official.

I cannot feed my granddaughter while seeing her over Duo on my phone or wipe her hands and face after she finishes eating. Duo and Skype are better than nothing, but they are definitely not the same. Martin Lloyd Jones would not allow his sermons to be recorded because the Holy Spirit works in the midst of the congregation during the preaching of the Word in a way that is not reduplicated when a sermon is later read, listened to, or watched. There is an individual and a corporate work of the Holy Spirit and they are not the same. Instead of listing my own experiences of the corporate work of the Spirit, I will just mention that the book of Acts historically records such events during the days of the Apostles. I am a Cessationist on the sign gifts but not concerning the Holy Spirit working both corporately and individually when the Word is preached (See Acts 16:13-14 [Note that Rabbis sat down to teach in the synagogue. If less than ten Jewish males lived in a town, the Jewish group would meet at the river on Saturday]). Thus, in my understanding, it is wrong to not obey Heb 10:24-25 and the twenty plus one-another commands when not significantly providentially hindered (e.g. being in a nursing home, hospital bed, jail cell, POW, etc.).

On the other hand, neighbor love, the second greatest commandment (Matt 22:39), must also be considered. If I believe I might have been exposed to a contagious illness that could harm my brother or sister, then I should not get within six feet of them, touch, kiss, hug or shake hands with them. Putting other Christians above and more important than myself out of love would require using accurate data to protect them.

So we have an ethical dilemma because a circumstance provides a situation where we struggle with obeying both commands. Christians hold to different approaches on this. When facing these, I am an ideal absolutist, which is just one of six approaches taken by believers. I seek to find a third alternative that will allow me to obey both commands.[iii] However, both a non-conforming absolutist and graded absolutist (hierarchal) would respond differently. The graded absolutist would choose the greater of the two commands and move on. The non-conforming absolutist would repent for breaking one command and obey the other. Likewise, there are other approaches taken by evangelical Christians when addressing moral dilemmas.

In the COVID-19 situation with the current data and lower numbers of deaths occurring than predicted, one can still do things to protect others. Wearing gloves, masks, properly disinfecting areas, and practicing social distancing would be necessary to obey neighbor love. But some type of regular physical gathering of those not providently hindered should also be occurring. Those at high risk because of existing health conditions are providential hindered. Thus, a person with COPD would be taking excessive risks, putting the Lord to the test (See Matt 4:7). They should not attend until it is safer.

However, this assembly does NOT have to occur at or on property owned by a non-profit group (e.g. a church-owned building). It does NOT have to be in groups above ten, even though it would be more convenient to have one meeting with more people. Our closest Wal-Mart allows 1050 customers in the building at one-time. Nevertheless, convenience is never grounds to disobey the governing authorities (Rom 13:1-10). These meeting of believers do NOT have to be at the same time of day. Thus, many groups of ten could meet each day with 30-minute gaps between them. This would allow a local body to obey both commands. Many members would not attend anyway because of fear of the virus. There are other creative alternatives that would also work that gifted elders could prayerfully discover. One idea is using a radio broadcast to preach to those in cars that are properly distanced in a church-owned parking lot. Again, for a Hierarchical Ethicist (Graded Absolutist), they get to pick the greater command and just follow it. A Non-conforming Absolutist picks one command and repents for breaking the other.

But there is a new twist to this situation. Once a church / assembly follows the initial governor’s executive order to not meet, there is a new problem of determining when to stop complying. They were already disobeying one command (assembly) and only obeying the other (neighbor love). Some were disobeying out of fear. Most Americans have accepted the propaganda of the news media and are not gathering with other believers because of fear, but they are inconsistently going to grocery stores, hardware stores and doing food curbside with people outside of their families who could be virus carriers. One thousand-fifty people are currently allowed in the Wake Forest Wal-Mart at the same time and their parking lots holds enough cars to transport over three thousand people. That people would fear worship but not Wal-Mart actually shows a low priority for the church. Corporate worship is not equal to attending a play or a basketball game. Contra the executive orders, a pastor is a much more essential occupation than an exempt ‘essential’ news media reporter. Nevertheless, since the decision to not have services was made, it becomes difficult, but not impossible, to justify restarting them before the dates of the state’s phases that are just weeks away. However, a case can be made if the decision to cancel a church service was based on inaccurate information provided by sources with an agenda other than the truth and only the truth and all the truth.

There are many that are also concerned with the financial implications and the issue that we live in a world with two kingdoms in conflict. There are many small churches that did not have electronic funding available before this crisis that may not be able to continue in July. There are Christians whose businesses may be in bankruptcy or closed and they may be unable to give to their particular church for many months to come.

What type of people in our world might be in favor of the gospel light going out in a community when a church closes no matter what means were used to be able to shut it down? This would include communists, atheists, Satan, demons, and all those under their influence. Are there any news media producers or political leaders that can be described in these terms? Yes, there are. Is it biblical to not comply with people motivated by these perspectives? Yes, in certain cases, it is.

On the other hand, could a group of elders be motivated by keeping their jobs, lifestyle level or protecting their traditional place of worship as their primary motivation? To defy the executive orders (which are not laws approved by both houses and then signed by the governor in a Constitutional Representative Republic), their motives must be carefully considered. If money or traditions are the primary motives, then they would be following a sinful and fleshly motivation. This would be wrong as a primary motive for civil disobedience. However, it is not practical to require financial concerns of the elders to not be a secondary or lower motive along with a biblical primary motivation. The financial concerns can also be considered because a man who does not provide for his household is worse than a pagan according to the Apostle Paul (1 Tim 5:8).

The Bible gives a number of circumstances where the elect are required to defy the government. The books of Exodus, Esther, Daniel, Acts and Revelation are very helpful in this matter. Examples include the Hebrew mid-wives (Exod 1:15-22), Hebrew mothers (Exod 2:1-2), Moses vs. Pharaoh (Exod 9:13-30), Mordecai vs. Haman (Esth 3:2-5), Daniel and the other three Hebrew young men against the empire’s orders on diets, idolatry and forbidding prayer (Daniel 1, 3, 6). Likewise, there is the case of the Apostles’ response to the highest Jewish leaders, the Sanhedrin, when they were ordered to not preach in Jesus’ name (Acts 4:19-20).[iv]  Furthermore, the elect are marked by God (Ezek 9:4; Rev 7:3) and are not to receive the legally required symbol (Rev 20:4) of the Beasts or worship them or their idols (Rev 13:11-17, 14:11, 16:2, 19:20). Defying this governmental order prevents the elect from being able to buy or sell food and goods legally.

Outside of the Bible, life in the Roman Empire, Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, China, most of Asia, Southeast Asia and Northern Africa required Christians to regularly not follow government regulations. John Bunyan spent twelve years in jail for preaching in England without a license from the Anglican Church in the 1600s. This is where he wrote Pilgrim’s Progress as a Baptist pastor. When we must disobey the government, we do need to take their punishment willingly and display love for them as our enemies whenever possible (Matt 5:44).

 Unfortunately, the news media wanting to influence political leaders has spread massive fear and is constantly using fear to motivate the population. Immoral celebrities giving hypocritical Skype lectures to the population that are also shown on TV have joined the news media. One Christian pastor friend who is spot on recently wrote: “I am not afraid of COVID-19, or of sickness or death from any other disease, because God is in absolute control and has all my days numbered.”

Worry is a sin (Matt 6:31-34). Not trusting God is a sin (Zeph 3:1-5). Lacking faith in God is a sin (Rom 14:23). If a person rode in an automobile and ate at a restaurant in August 2019, they were doing statistically risky behavior that actually exceeds the risk of dying from COVID-19 at this point.

What is changing in May 2020 is that the warmer temperatures, sunlight, and higher humidity will also lower the risk of spreading any viruses in the coming weeks. However, the media has not allowed this event to be viewed in comparison to SARS, the swine flu, or the bird flu. We did not restrict anyone’s constitutional rights to assemble and to freely practice religious duties for these epidemics.  The statistical death toll of COVID-19 does not come anywhere close to percentage of the population lost to the Spanish flu or the bubonic plaque in proportion to the world population in those times. Christians were allowed to meet and were on the front lines helping victims during both of these pandemics.

Some additional problems with the current reaction is that the regular flu killed more people in 2019 in many states than have died by COVID-19. In NC, 520 people have died of COVID-19 out of 7.5 million. Yet during the 2019 flu season, thousands of small businesses in the state were not destroyed because of influenza. Many businesses may be gone in July 2020 that were functioning well in January. When AIDS showed up in California, a quarantine could have wiped it out, but because of political correctness, the government did nothing like this to protect the population. For many years HIV killed every person who contracted it (COVID-19 has not). HIV used to have a one-to-one ratio and the government response was free needles and something else I won’t mention, but no quarantine. Consistency has not been used in the fight against diseases that are contagious. Because of this, it makes it painful to see that many small churches throughout the country might have to close because of this different reaction to a virus.

How should we respond if we disagree with the churches that have won their right to assemble in courts or those who have chosen to peacefully meet according to the same CDC guidelines that Wal-Mart is using? The concept of theological triage will help us here. Biblical doctrines’ importance is on three levels. Crossway has just released a book explaining this.[v]

On theological triage, the matters discussed above are all third level doctrines except the commands listed. Third level doctrines are ones that we lovingly work together with those who hold to different views than we do on these non-essential doctrines. Husbands and wives and church staff members, elders, deacons and church members can hold to different positions on any third level doctrines and still loving function and work together in unity.

The commands to assemble and love our neighbor are second level doctrines. You can be wrong on these and still enter heaven, but you cannot serve closely with those who would clearly and intentionally live in violation of either command. Love for them would make conversations unpleasant as they were called to renewed obedience to these biblical commands clearly applied to believers in the New Testament as well as the Old Testament. Nothing touched on in this response is a level one doctrine.

Level one doctrines include the virgin birth, trinity, deity and humanity of Christ, blood atonement, salvation by grace, justification by faith alone and by Christ alone, etc. Those who hold the wrong view on these, especially after being exposed to the truth, are not saved and our contact is not one of fellowship but relational evangelism. For those actively teaching in cults, we must even distance ourselves from them (2 John 10).

The bottom line—even though it would be exhausting, I would enthusiastically support any elder who would personally vote to schedule multiple groups of ten people following CDC protocol at different times at a safe location as a way to comply with God’s command and the government until they are offered a better and more creative way to do it. I believe there are creative minds in the church that should discuss these issues together. Together they can come up with even better ways to both show love for neighbor and assemble with believers. Godly elders can discover win-win alternatives in discussions and prayer. Then, in each phase of reopening, adapt to the new lesser restrictions. After all the true factual data is gathered from these past months, there may be grounds in the autumn season to not comply with parts of executive orders that violate biblical commands if proper preventative polices are put in place to prevent the spreading of contagious diseases.

END NOTES

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[i]. See a list of one-another commands and statements athttp://conservativeevangelicals737.blogspot.com/2020/05/what-does-reciprocal-living-mean-nt-one.html and http://conservativeevangelicals737.blogspot.com/2020/05/nt-one-another-commands-and-statements.html

[ii]. For this same reason I agree with the Pillar Network’s position that a pastor needs to be present with his people during preaching and not just viewed on a screen at a satellite worship location. A new church should be planted with an actual man rather than an electronic video image that cannot hold their hand at a hospital or graveside. They need a person who can see, listen, and speak.

[iii]. See my view on moral dilemmas at this link http://conservativeevangelicals737.blogspot.com/2019/07/a-personal-evaluation-of-moral-dilemmas.html

[iv]. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you  rather than to God, you be the judge; ²⁰ for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:19-20 NASB).

[v]. Gavin Ortlund, Finding the Right Hills to Die on: The Case for Theological Triage, Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2020.

NT One Another Commands and Statements

 (John 13:34-35 NKJV)  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. {35} "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

(John 15:12 NKJV)  "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

(John 15:17 NKJV)  "These things I command you, that you love one another.

(Romans 12:5 NKJV)  so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

(Romans 12:10)  Be devoted to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

(Romans 12:16 NKJV)  Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

(Romans 13:8 NKJV)  Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

(Romans 14:13 NKJV)  Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way.

(Romans 15:5 NKJV)  Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,

(Romans 15:7)  Therefore accept (receive) one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

(Romans 15:14 NKJV)  Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

(Romans 16:16 NKJV)  Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

(1 Corinthians 11:33 NKJV)  Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

(1 Corinthians 12:25 NKJV)  that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

(1 Corinthians 16:20 NKJV)  All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

(2 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV)  Greet one another with a holy kiss.

(Galatians 5:13 NKJV)  For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

(Galatians 5:26 NKJV)  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

(Ephesians 4:2 NKJV)  with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

(Ephesians 4:25 NKJV)  Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.

(Ephesians 4:32 NKJV)  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

(Ephesians 5:19 NKJV)  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

(Ephesians 5:21 NKJV)  submitting to one another in the fear of God.

(Colossians 3:9 NKJV)  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

(Colossians 3:13 NKJV)  bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

(Colossians 3:16 NKJV)  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

(1 Thessalonians 3:12 NKJV)  And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,

(1 Thessalonians 4:9 NKJV)  But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

(1 Thessalonians 4:18 NKJV)  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

(1 Thessalonians 5:11 NKJV)  Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

(Hebrews 3:13 NKJV)  but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

(Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV)  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, {25} not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

(James 4:11 NKJV)  Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

(James 5:9 NKJV)  Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

(James 5:16 NKJV)  Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

(1 Peter 1:22 NKJV)  Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

(1 Peter 3:8 NKJV)  Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

(1 Peter 4:8-10 NKJV)  And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." {9} Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. {10} As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

(1 Peter 5:5 NKJV)  Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

(1 Peter 5:14 NKJV)  Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

(1 John 1:7 NKJV)  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

(1 John 3:11 NKJV)  For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,

(1 John 3:23 NKJV)  And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

(1 John 4:7 NKJV)  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

(1 John 4:11-12 NKJV)  Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. {12} No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

(2 John 1:5 NKJV)  And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another.

The Importance of the Local Church

The local church is mentioned in the Bible over seventy times. Jesus loves the church and died for the church (Eph 5:25). Yet some people do not understand that the local church should have an important place in their lives. They see no need of attending the services or getting involved in the work of the local assembly. It is not wise to emulate these folks. This is not the biblical pattern nor one that will produce strong and consistent disciples that love Jesus and follow Him. In the New Testament when people were delivered from the power and consequences of their sin (saved) they immediately became part of a local church (Acts 2:41, 47). When Saul was transformed into the Apostle Paul on the Damascus road, he wanted to join the church (Acts 9:26). Paul taught that the local church is God’s field, Christ’s Bride, Christ’s body, God’s building, and God’s spiritual temple that is corporately indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:10–5:25). Jesus taught that He was in the business of building His church (Matt 16:18). How can someone who genuinely loves Jesus ignore the church that He is building? How can someone who worships the Bride Groom, ignore His cherished Bride without greatly insulting Him? Is it even possible for a body part to ignore the rest of the body and only have a connection with the Head (Eph 1:22, 4:16)?

We are commanded by God through His Apostles to attend church services. The Bible says, “And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, 25 not staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb 10:24–25 HCSB). Since the final day of the LORD is much closer for us than it was for the early church, we should be even more diligent today about attending church regularly than they were in the first century.

Many Books of the New Testament were written directly to local churches. This shows that God expected His people to actually attend church services so they could hear what the Apostles were inspired to write. We all need to hear the Word of God preached and taught. To not attend church is to neglect the preaching of the Word of God. When we turn away from the regular preaching of the Bible, it hinders our fellowship with God (Proverbs. 28:9), stunts our spiritual growth, and deprives other Christians of what they need from us (Eph 4:16). In the body life flows from body part to body part, every part is not directly connected to the head (the illustration in the New Testament is of a human body, not of an octopus).

Our family’s needs to attend local church services and events. God commands parents to diligently teach the Bible to their children (Deut 6:6–7). Attending a Bible teaching church as a family is one way of doing this. God is doing His work in this world through the local assemblies. The church is His one and only ordained and commissioned redemptive channel on the earth. Only the local church has the authority to participate in the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Therefore, it is impossible to be a faithful and obedient Christian without being an active participant in a Bible teaching church unless one is physically unable to do so. Real believers that are providentially hindered from active participation during a season of their lives still have a great desire to be part of a local assembly and they miss it dearly when they cannot be. However, If the assembly we choose to attend is committed to entertainment or

liberalism rather than biblical exposition, it will not be able to assist us in training our families with the Word of God and to think Christianly.
   
Every believer (past, present, and future) needs to be part of a church in order to regularly fellowship with other Christians (Acts 2:42). God has designed humans to have a need for community. Being a hermit or recluse is not normal. We need a place to serve, to give, and to corporately worship our Triune God (Acts 4:31). We need a pastor and people who care for us, serve with us, and pray for us. We need a place where we can invite our friends to come and hear the Word of God and to hear again the gospel message we have been sharing with them. As we team up with other believers at our local church, we can more effectively reach our neighborhood for Christ. Also, through the church we can help send missionaries around the world, pray for them, provide funds for them, as well as going on short term mission trips ourselves with others in the body of Christ. Some active church members will be directed by the Lord to relocate and serve Him where the gospel is scarce. But those who are not faithful in the smaller things—like regularly participating in corporate worship on the first day of the week (Sunday), He will not lead to enter vocational service locally or overseas (Luke 16:10). Furthermore, it is a weekly witness that we believe in the resurrection of the Messiah, Jesus, when we gather for worship on Sunday, just as we see the early church doing in the New Testament (1 Cor 16:1–2).

When we put other things before our church attendance, the message we are sending to others around us (including our children) is that Jesus is not very important in our life, neither is His Word. We are not walking in obedience to the Good Shepherd of the sheep (John 10:27). When we do not assemble together with Christ’s Bride, we are showing that an idol has replaced Yahweh in our hearts as the supreme One we adore. Unless we are providentially hindered, the normal pattern of a follower of Jesus is to gather with the local assembly of Christ’s body, building, and bride. When the Holy Spirit does a mighty work in a local assembly, we will not be a participant in that event even if we watch or listen to that service by some form of electronic media (e.g. TV, radio, CD, DVD, etc.). Nothing replaces being there during a special visitation of God (John 20:24).

Why is the confusing to some people? It is because many who claim to be a Christian do not attend church regularly. John the Baptist preached that if our life did not produce the fruit that vindicates our profession, then the mere words we said were useless and false (Luke 3:7–9). The Apostle John tells us that one of the tests that confirms that we have a sufficient basis for assurance of our salvation is to be actively part of a local church (1 John 2:18–19).

Make sure you have surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ and are truly delivered from the power, love of, and everlasting consequences of sin. Alabama pastor Matt Chandler regularly reminds the Village church that the reason many of them have no love for the Lord, the Word of God, or the people of God is that they are not yet saved. They made an easy-believism profession, with no intention at all of surrendering to Jesus or obeying His written Word. James clearly reminds us that a professed faith that cannot demonstrate that it is genuine by loyal obedience is a demonic and dead faith that cannot deliver one from the wrath to come (Jam 2:14–26).


The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes the importance of local assemblies. In fact, it was the pattern of Paul’s ministry to establish local congregations in the cities where he preached the gospel. He knew for the gospel to expand in a city and multiply that he must plant churches. He then would return to these churches to help establish them in the faith. He gave most of the fifty-six “one another” commands to local churches, which it is only in such gatherings of believers where these commands can be obeyed. For instance, we cannot greet another believer with a handshake if we are never in their presence. Paul could not imagine a churchless Christian any more than he could a Christ-less Christian.

The New Testament also teaches that every believer is to be under the protection and nurture of the leadership of a local church. These godly men can shepherd the believer who attend by encouraging, admonishing, caring for, leading, and teaching. Hebrews 13:7 and 17 help us to understand that God has graciously granted accountability to us through godly leadership (Also see Titus 1and 1 Timothy 3). Furthermore, when Paul gave Timothy special instructions about the public meetings, he said “Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching” (1 Tim 4:13). Part of the activities in a Bible based public worship service includes these three elements: hearing the Word read out loud, being called to obedience through preaching and exhortation, and Bible teaching. It is by God’s design and plan that in the context of the local assembly that these things can most effectively take place.

The book of Acts shows us what the early church did when they met together: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
 (Acts 2:42 ESV). They learned God’s Word and appropriated its truths into their lives. They came together to participate in acts of love and service to one another, they regularly ate together as well as celebrating the Lord’s Supper together, and they prayed together. Worship in the entire Bible is seen as scheduled events that are regularly individual acts and regularly corporate acts. Biblical Christianity include both private and public worship. What is positionally and spiritually true of a believer needs to be displayed in their lives ( 1 Cor 12:13; Eph 4:1–6).

Active local church membership is necessary to live a life with integrity. It is only through the ministry of the local church that a believer can receive the kind of teaching, accountability, and encouragement that is necessary for him to stand against his spiritual enemies (Eph 6:10–18; Jam 5:16). Likewise, the local church is the God ordained place for the believer to regularly exercise their spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:11). Charles Spurgeon was truly correct when he said the local church “Is the sweetest place on all the earth.”

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)