By Matthew Honeycutt
In America today, organizational membership has become less and less meaningful. Statistics reveal this downward trend. This is no surprise because commitment in nearly every area of life has become optional. Work commitments, marital commitments, contractual commitments, just about any commitment that entails sacrifice and effort has become trivial. No one likes to be “tied down” in the sense that they have to sacrifice their time, their hard-earned money, their talents, themselves, or anything else. And certainly, (it seems in our post-COVID days) that many do not like to put forth any effort in doing anything meaningful. And that is not all. Being a member of any organization also entails rules and no one likes rules.
These are some of the negative thoughts that come to mind when we say “membership.” But did you know that membership (particularly, being a part of a local church) is implied in Scripture toward the believer as a necessity and a joy. Essentially, church membership is for the Christian’s good! This type of membership is different than what we find in society.
In a broad sense membership is seen in the biblical word, “church.” The word “church” (ekklēsia) in the NT means “called-out ones.” It has its roots in the OT when referring to Israel, God’s covenant people who were separated from the surrounding nations to worship and serve Him. After the nation’s exile, Israelite worship would later develop into the Jewish synagogue, where the community of God’s people would gather to hear stories of their history and God’s promises proclaimed.
Jesus carried this idea over to describe NT believers as a new group of “called-out ones” of God’s people called “the church.” Paul (like Jesus) would later use the word for “church” (ekklēsia) in his letters as a new term describing the gathering of Christian believers of all nations.
The church has come to be seen in two distinct forms: the universal (invisible) church, and the local (visible) church. The universal church is made up of all believers everywhere and throughout time. The local church is the small group of local believers that meet at a specific location at specific times.
There is plenty of evidence in the Bible for both groups, however, one verse is sufficient to prove the point. In 1 Corinthians 1:2 the Apostle Paul says, “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.” Paul is addressing his letter to the “church of God which is at Corinth” and to all other believers “in every place.” These two groups (local and global)
Essentially, if you are a local church member you are also a member of the global church throughout time. Why is this important to consider?As Alistair Begg once rightly noted,
“The invisible church finds expression in the visible communities of God’s people, who identify themselves with a local congregation.”
What this means is that the “one another” metaphors in the New Testament only make sense when applied to the local church. Love one another, forgive one another, put others before yourself, encourage and edify one another. These things cannot manifest themselves consistently among the membership of the invisible church. Only at the local visible level can these virtues be manifest and practiced consistently.
Is It Necessary to Join a Church?
There is still the argument of why must I “join” a local church and not just merely attend? One reason to join a local church is due to the biblical evidence. There is evidence that the early church practiced a form of church membership in several ways.
First, many of the letters of the New Testament were written to churches in specific locations and at specific times, even though they are intended for all the church. In addition, church discipline (especially excommunication) is another proof the early church exercised local church membership. In order to be “put out” of the church one must be already be “in” as a member. One other proof is obedience and submission to elders or pastors. Pastors at a local church must know who they are actually accountable for in order to minister effectively. A pastor of one church cannot be held accountable to a believer of another church.
The overall goal of membership in the local church is to foster spiritual maturity. As an aid to the believer’s sanctification, the local church helps a believer live out his or her faith in order to grow to maturity. Michael Foster got it right when he said,
“Nothing grows a Christian like a serious commitment to a single church week in and week out for years and years. Not conferences. Not social media. Not even personal devotions. The local church is where mature Christians are slowly forged in the fires of mundane faithfulness.”[1]
Today we are talking about belonging, specifically, belonging to a local congregation of believers as a dedicated church member. We’ve considered some of the biblical evidence. Now, let’s turn our attention to consider 2 of the top reasons why membership really matters.
Accountability is Why Membership Matters
Mark Dever and Paul Alexander in their book, The Deliberate Church, have said, “…local church membership is a good and necessary implication of God’s desire to keep a clear distinction between His own chosen people and the worldly system of rebellion that surrounds them.”[2]
One way to keep this “clear distinction” between God’s people and the world is by keeping each other accountable. Since believers are still fallible and still struggle with sin, they need accountability. Despite the cultural baggage that goes along with it, accountability is actually a good and healthy thing. Accountability is the intervention necessary to keep one another out of trouble, even when it is unpleasant.
Church discipline (discipleship being the root of discipline) is one means God has commanded to keep His people accountable to Him. This entails (in humility) submitting to church leaders and other church members. This is the unpleasant side of being a local church family, but it’s necessary in a good way. Jesus spells out the process in Matthew 18:15-17 when he says,
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”
One reason why a church member should approach a fellow believer who is sinning is because of love. All good families keep each other accountable, because they love one another. Another reason why a church member should approach a fellow believer (in love by the way) who is living in sin is it can affect others. If the open sin is not handled it can fester like an open wound and the infection will spread to other believers in a local church. What happens to a barrel of good apples when a bad apple is thrown in?… That’s right, the whole barrel goes bad if it’s not addressed. It’s the same with local church life.[3]
How should sin be handled on the local level? Galatians 6:1 says,
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”
Spiritual discipline’s purpose is restoration. The Greek word behind the English word “restore” (Galatians 6:1) is a medical term that means setting a broken bone. As many of you know setting a broken bone can be a painful process. But, it is necessary for the overall health of the body. What Paul is implying is restoring an erring brother or sister in Christ can be painful. No one desires to be told they are wrong. No one takes criticism well due to pride. But, it is necessary. Not only is the individual’s spiritual health in mind here, but also the health of the whole fellowship family.
What spiritual accountability means for a church member is a good thing. It means a second chance. It leaves room for failure, because failure is inevitable in this broken world in which we live. If believers don’t keep each other accountable within the local church as members then they are in trouble. Not only are we bringing reproach on the name of Christ, but we are also inviting the judgment of God or the removal of blessing from us as a local body of believers. In addition, if we don’t take care of each other and confront sin then we are destroying our testimony/reputation in our community.
If we don’t take care of each other and confront sin then we are destroying our testimony/reputation in our community.
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This is one good reason why being identified with a local church as a member matters. It keeps us spiritually accountable. It even fosters spiritual growth in the right way!
One last reason is just as essential as accountability, and it even overlaps.
Danger Outside is Why Membership Matters.
Picture a flock of sheep and a shepherd watching over them, protecting them from harm, feeding them, keeping them together. Now imagine what would happen when one of those sheep got away from the flock. That one sheep is in grave danger. It was in danger not only of being eaten by predators, but also in danger of eating poisonous vegetation, much less fall and cripple itself. It’s true that a sheep that goes astray is in some serious trouble.
Now picture a local church. Elders are the shepherds. Sheep are church members. As Peter says in 1 Peter 5:2-3 to all elders/pastors:
“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”
conclusion
Notice what the writer to the Hebrews states in Hebrews 13:7, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
First, this verse implies there are spiritual dangers that lurk around every corner. Peter gives us this warning: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)
The emphasis is on the first part of Hebrews 13:7 is obey and submit. To who?…Church leaders. Why? 2 things: Church leaders watch out for your souls, and they must give an account to God one day.
Shepherds/pastors/ministers/elders (whatever name we go by) are called by the Lord to serve the church, particularly on the local level. They will be held accountable to the Lord one day how well they lead the Lord’s church. Church members are to submit to this authority and obey them as it entails a spiritual benefit. I suspect that spiritual benefit is accountability, which fosters spiritual growth.
Allow pastors to watch over your soul. Keep them accountable for sure in how they lead, but let them do the task God has given them without grief.
Mark Dever, in his book Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, sums it up well when he writes,
Church membership is our opportunity to grasp hold of each other in responsibility and love. By identifying ourselves with a particular church, we let the pastors and other members of that local church know that we intend to be committed in attendance, giving, prayer, and service. We allow fellow believers to have great expectations of us in these areas, and we make it known that we are the responsibility of this local church. We assure the church of our commitment to Christ in serving with them, and we call for their commitment to serve and encourage as well.”[4]
Accountability and spiritual dangers are why church membership matters.
Accountability and spiritual dangers are why church membership matters.
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There are many so called “free spirits” out there; those who are just fine being lone sheep with no accountability to others. Some like living on the periphery of Christian circles, living in an autonomous fashion, hidden from authority and submission, without being tied down. The expressive individualism of American culture fosters this kind of attitude.
Conclusion
As believers we should not let the culture convince us that belonging to a local body of believers is evil and against our best interest. It is not. God’s commands are true, full of love, and that He desires the absolute best for His people.
In this broken world we live in sin is inevitable. And when sin rears its ugly head we help ourselves and others when we allow others to help us. As painful as it can be at times, it is necessary, and it should always be done in love through a local church.
[1] Michael Foster, Twitter, accessed June 11, 2023, https://twitter.com/thisisfoster/status/1592869778720714752?lang=en.
[2] Mark Dever and Paul Alexander, The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel (Wheaton: Crossway, 2005), 55-56.
[3] A good example of this is seen in the way Paul addressed the Corinthian church about one man’s open sin in 1 Corinthians 5.
[4] Mark Dever. Nine Marks of A Healthy Church 4th ed. (Wheaton: Crossway, 2021), 135.
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