I have provided definitions of two Biblical concepts: the universal church and the local church here. This week I will answer the question, is church membership biblical? This issue is essential, for some “churches” and Christians reject church membership. Some reason that the word church membership is not in the Bible and there are no examples in the New Testament that explicitly show what we understand to be church membership. Therefore, church membership is not required. Is this argument sound? No, it isn’t. A concept can be in Scripture without the term being there. Take the doctrine of the Trinity for example. The word Trinity is not in the Bible, but God being one being and three persons are implied and illustrated in the Bible. As for there being no explicit example of what we understand as church membership, we must realize that there weren’t several churches in each city. There was the church in Rome, the church in Jerusalem, the church in Corinth, etc. Therefore, there would be no way for the Bible to have an example that is identical to the situations we face now—various churches in one community. The issue is whether the Bible teaches the concept that the term church membership represents. Jonathan Leeman’s definition of church membership in his book, The Church and the Surprising Offense of God’s Love: Reintroducing the Doctrines of Church Membership and Discipline, is biblical and clear. He says,
Church membership is a union between a particular church and a Christian, a covenant that consists of the church’s affirmation of the Christian’s gospel profession, the church’s promise to give oversight to the Christian, and the Christian’s commitment to gather with the church and submit to its leadership (217).
In a later post, I will break down this definition, defining some of the terms used. However, in this blog, I will show you that church membership, as described above, is a biblical requirement and not a later addition of men. I will provide four examples from Scripture.
1. Church membership is required; we see this in the case of church discipline.
Turn to 1 Corinthians 5. In this chapter, the apostle tells of a man, who committed a great sin—he slept with his step-mother. The church of Corinth had permitted such behavior. The church, before Paul’s letter, had allowed this man’s behavior. Paul’s responds by saying in verse 2, “Let him who has done this thing be removed from among you,” he continues saying a little later in verse 5, “you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.” Finally, in verse 13 he says, “Purge the evil person from among you.” Paul provides reasons for such radical behavior: The holiness of the Church (verse 6-8) and the salvation of the man in sin (verse 5). But for our purposes today, let’s focus on this passage’s ramifications on church membership. Think for a moment, how can someone be removed from a church when he is not formally a part of it? The answer is that he can’t. The subject of church discipline, as seen in this passage, implies formal recognition of those who make up the church of Corinth, so that it may remove the man who is living like a nonbeliever.
Paul in verses 12-13a says, “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside.” How can someone be an outsider of a group that has no formal process of recognizing who insiders are? Though the first-century church did not use the term church membership, they had a way of knowing who was inside and outside. Paul further demonstrates the idea of outsiders and insiders when he assumes that outsiders will be attending their meetings in chapter 14 of this same book (1 Cor 14:23-25).
In Paul’s final letter to the Corinthian church, he takes up this case of church discipline again. This time he calls for the restoration of the man who slept with his step-mother. He says, “this punishment of the majority is enough.” Can you have a majority without a formally recognized group? No, you can’t. To understand this case of discipline, we must assume that the church in Corinth had a way of knowing who its members were and who its members weren’t. If we are to obey God’s demand for church discipline, then it requires us to formally keep track of those who are covenant members of our church. Church discipline is a scary word and idea. I will explain it in greater detail in a later post and the primary biblical passages that present it. Now, however, I will continue with the theme at hand.
2. Church membership is required; we see this in the list maintained by churches.
In the New Testament, we will not find an example of a church role—a list of all the members. However, we do see that the widows under the care of the church, were put on a formal list (1 Tim. 5:9). Is a church to make a list of all widows? No, only those who qualify and only those who are under its care. The church of Corinth was not responsible for the widows in the church of Philippi. A Smaller list like that for widows implies the existence the bigger list of church members. Our church can only know those who need special care in our membership if we are aware who makes up our membership.
3. Church membership is required; we see this in the responsibilities of Elders.
Hebrews 13 is the most explicit representation of this idea, though there are others. The author says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” In this verse, the author of Hebrews says your leaders. The word leader in this context certainly refers to the office typically called Elder, Overseer or Pastor. How is a Christian to know who their elders are if they are not a part of a local church? Furthermore, the passage says that elders will give an account for those who they oversee. How am I to know who I am to give an account for, if there is not a formal body of believers? Do pastors give an account for every Christian? Certainly not. An easier explanation of this text is that pastors are to have a way of knowing those who are inside the church and those outside the church. In Peter’s first letter he exhorts pastors to “shepherd the flock of God that is among them…” (1 Peter 5:2) Who are pastors to shepherd? Those who are among them. It is not possible to fulfill this responsibility as a pastor unless you know whose pastor you are. Thus, the best explanation for commands like that in Hebrews and First Peter is church membership. I will explain the role, number, and function of elders will in a later post. For our purposes here it is best to stick to our theme of the biblical requirement of practicing church membership. I have shown that church membership is the best explanation for church discipline, the lists kept by churches, and the responsibilities of elders. Now we turn to the duties of Christians.
4. Church membership is required; we see this in the duties of Christians.
The passage in Hebrews again is the most explicit passage for this point. Let’s reread it: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” Are Christians to obey every pastor? No. Christians are under the obligation to submit to their leaders. The author of Hebrew assumes that his audience will know what people he is referring to as “leaders.” This command to obey your leaders would be difficult without the practice of church membership. Other than the practice of church membership, how would you know which leaders are in fact your leaders? Or how would a pastor know those who he leads? It seems the best way for us to understand these responsibilities given to Christians and their leaders is to understand them in the context of covenant communities or local churches. In these covenant communities, members and leaders would know who is inside the group and who is outside.
If you survey the New Testament, you will never find the command, “Thou shalt join a church,” nor will you find the words “Church Membership” at all. However, this does not mean that church membership is a man-made tradition added to the word of God. Instead, I have demonstrated the biblical witness to the practice of church membership by the way that the Bible either assumes or implies its existence. You may not see an explicit example, but the very idea of church discipline, the existence of church lists, the responsibilities of church leaders, and the duties of Christians all point to the reality that church membership is required. Without it, many of the New Testament letters would not make sense. The word may be man-made, but the concept is biblical. Therefore, as a church let us practice this biblical idea with diligence. Let us as individual Christians take seriously the duties that come with being a church member. Let us appoint leaders who we will follow. Let us all remember that church membership is required.
Jesus came to earth, lived a holy life, died a sinner’s death, bearing the just wrath of God in the place of all those trust him as Lord and Savior. God was pleased with his sacrifice and rose Him from the dead, and all who believe in Him may also hope for the future resurrection. They may know that their eternity is secure in their union with Him. In being united to Him, they have been joined to his people the universal church, which is displayed in local churches. Do you know Jesus as your Savior and Lord? Do you want to know you are his disciple? One of the easiest ways to do this is to join a local church in membership and then be an active member.
Applications and Questions
- Our church should know who its leaders and members are.
- Our church should keep accurate members list that reflects the people who are a regular part of our church family.
- Read this article by Matt Chandler https://www.9marks.org/article/journalchurch-membership-biblical/ it reiterates a lot of what I have written here and raises some other issues regarding this subject.
- How does our church do regarding keeping track of its members? Do we teach perspective members the commitment that is required of them in Scripture?
- Have you heard of the idea of church discipline from anyone other than me? What is your initial response to this idea? Why do you think you respond to it this way? Have you ever seen church discipline practiced? Read the passage I cite and also Matthew 18:15-17.
- Have you ever heard anyone say they’re a Christian and have no affiliation with a local church? What if someone told you church membership isn’t biblical, how would you respond?