Church Membership

And the question is, Why Not?

We are convinced that God will not be checking denominational I. D. cards at the door to Heaven. Heaven is bigger than any of us, or all of us put together. So just what is the purpose of signing the dotted line at a local church?

Membership is an official tie with other people in the name of Christ. It is an agreement of cooperation and responsibility, your voluntary covenant to minister.

Membership is also the basis of church and ministerial care for you from the rest of the church. This official tie works both ways! While the church seeks to love the whole world, it has a special responsibility for those who seek that care through membership.

Membership is a witness, a public word of your faith. In our church only openly committed believers in Christ may join. Membership in itself says you trust Him and it provides opportunities to express that faith to some of the people of the church.

Membership is a union with the others who have joined. It is your pledge to act like a body with them, through the Holy Spirit.

Like brothers and sisters in a home, members in a church are related. They have agreed to be united by common consent to some important Biblical beliefs and goals.

Membership is a voice. It qualifies you to help choose your church leaders, approve the money-ministry goals of the church and help make other decisions. Only those who want to seek the mind of Christ and obey Him carefully should seek to be part of that voice.

Membership is voluntary. It is not our main thing. Our main thing is the Lord and spiritual membership in Him.

But that invisible, though evident, union logically calls for a local time and space commitment to an assembly of believers. It makes sense to be counted that way.

The Bible does not have chapter and verse to say, "Thou shalt join the following local church...", however, it does furnish numbers, indicating that someone was counting to see how many people were becoming Christians. There were rolls. People knew who was in the church and who was not.

The Universal Church

The church, all Christians together, is "His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Ephesians 1:23.

But that worldwide church shows itself and functions as a specific body, a local church. Each local church should be working together in love, doing what God sees for His church. When the New Testament speaks of "churches", it is talking about local assemblies. They are in God's plan. Joining them is too.

In the early Jerusalem church, "None of the rest dared to associate (KJV: joined) with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number." Acts 5:13-14

It appears there was an official "association". People were "added" to it and subrtacted from it! 1 Corinthians 5:7

On the church's birthday, "those who had received His word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls". Acts 2:41

•Receiving God's Word was involved.

•So was Baptism.

•There were added to some thing - the church (there were 120 believers) Acts 1:15

•They counted the number.

If you are not sure you are a Christian, talk with someone and see what the Bible says about assurance of Christ, forgiveness and eternal life.

If you are a Christian, check into this church and see how you can serve Christ and what their convictions are and where they are going.

If you see that the opportunities and beliefs are favorable and in line with God's Word and His wishes for your ministry, think about official membership.

If not ... why not?

That's not a sarcastic question. It's our concerned reaction based on this logic:

•Why not be a member of the church you attend and serve in, rather than one from the past.

•Why not make the open commitment of responsibility to do your part, rather than do it only unofficially.

•Why not officially come under the care and covering of the leadership and love of the church.

•Why not use this public way to express your sincere commitment to Christ.

•Why not encourage the other members by coming alongside them in the exciting and challenging mission of the church.

•Why not help make church membership decisions, helping seek the mind of the Lord.

The church belongs to the Lord. So do you if you are abiding in Christ. It can also be a very good ministry to belong to the church.

•Used by permission from CE National.

•Copies of this pamphlet are available from CE National at PO Box 365,
Winona Lake, IN 46590