Is Church MEMBERSHIP Biblical?

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[DrGero]

All the Baptized are members of Christ and of His Church.

[donaldmorrison]

I've never been so thankful to be Presbyterian. Most people commenting in this thread are groping in the dark with only their own opinions as a guide when, in fact, this question has been debated and decided a long time ago. There's no need to reinvent the wheel and there's no need to come up with your own personal systematic theology.

[NoKingButChrist]

One thing that is often overlooked when discussing membership is submission. Hebrews 13:17 makes this clear.

[CornCod]

I agree with Pastor Everhard here. I add Matthew 18:15-17. The very fact that one can be ex-communicated assumes a former membership that has been broken by "manifest and impenetent" sinfulness as we Lutherans put it.

[danbrown]

From age 18 (when I ceased to be a "family member" under my parents) to about 40, I was never an official member of any church. I attended and participated regularly, but never joined, because I didn't see--and nobody was able to show me--any biblical reason that I should be. That changed ten years ago in my current Presbyterian church, but interestingly not on account of any of the passages you mention.

The passage that convinced me was Matthew 18 on church discipline. The final step is to put the offender out of the church, which can only be done if he's recognizably *in* the church. That strongly suggests there's some kind of official list to which people can be added and from which they can be removed.

Moreover, 1 Peter 5:1-5 contain instructions both for the elders and the membership; in order to carry those out, each has to know who the others are. Once again, some kind of membership is implied.

[scottmccauley]

The issue is not about being tracked as a member of the body of Christ. The issue is when one church expects its members to be exclusive to that congregation as opposed to participating with other congregations just down the street. We are exclusively Christ's, not exclusively 123 Maple Street's.

[sammack]

The best example of what church membership means, that I have seen, was in a small remote church in the mountains of Peru. At the commencement of the service, a roll call of the members is taken - in such a remote and hostile environment, it means anyone who is missing is checked on to make sure they are safe and well. It placed a loving responsibility on those in attendance to check the welfare of their brother or sister and it placed a loving responsibility on the individual to attend church so that their brothers and sisters would not be caused unnecessary concern for their welfare. A loving commitment to our brothers and sisters in our local church,
John 13:34-3 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

[denniscrumbley]

I was raised in New Port Richey. Some of your viewers may not know that it's very close to Brooksville.

I am not against church membership. I am against the idea that church membership is explicitly taught and commanded in Scripture.

I appreciate your teaching and your conservative views.

However, I agree with your friend in Brooksville. Having been a member of most of the churches I've attended over the years and even where we attend now, I still did not see membership explicitly taught in Scripture. Even before studying and while teaching in seminary I have studied this issue in depth. That doesn't mean I am correct.

The closest passage I see that might have to do with membership is Hebrews 10:25. And that is only talking about gathering together verses not gathering together. And gathering together was/is for the purpose of encouraging each other to stay strong in the Lord in difficult times.

I appreciate that you are consistent and say about each passage that you presented that each passage "implies" or "seems to suggest" membership. I believe there is nothing in Scripture that explicitly teaches membership in a local assembly. I believe membership is a man-made tradition. Which is ok.

First, I don't believe Paul wrote to one specific church in Corinth. I believe he wrote to the "Church", the Body of Christ in Corinth. I believe his letter was to be passed to each of the local assemblies in Corinth.

In the first passage you presented, I firmly believe Paul is making a clear distinction between the unsaved and the saved. Those "outside " the church are not those who are attending a different church from the one he is allegedly writing to. He is speaking about the unsaved who are obviously "outside" the church.

I believe the same holds true for each passage you presented.

Regarding going to court, my view is that Paul is saying that we should settle our differences among our brothers in Christ because we have standards to which secular courts do not adhere or understand. Again, I believe those who have "no standing in the church" are the unsaved, non-believers, those who do not meet together with fellow believers. Also, I believe the "factions" Paul mentions refers to the saved and the unsaved who are attending church, just as you stated. Not between the rich and the poor.

Regarding the Acts 14:23 passage you stated, "seems to suggest . . .". I very much appreciate the absence of a dogmatic view on your part. There have been many with whom I have discussed this topic who are very dogmatic.

So, why have I been a member of different churches? Simply to express my agreement doctrinally and with their statement of faith. And so that I may teach in the church which I was or am attending. And so that I may vote on issues within the church.

While I have not and do not see an explicit teaching or command for church membership, I will continue to keep my mind open.

[karlheppard]

Great explanation. Thank you for posting it.

[salishsailing]

I agree with your friend Eric. In the first century church you either participated or you did not. I have seen bad things arise from church membership and church government. Membership is often used for control and sometimes in an evil way. Many years ago a pastor told me that I was not allowed to visit any other church. He found that I had visited other churches with friends at times and threatened to bring it before the board and have me excommunicated. He said because he told me that I could only attend there and nowhere else, that this was a word from God. He also told me that whatever he says is a word from God because he is a minister of the gospel. I shook his hand violently and said, "Let's go for it!" Nothing happened. I left six months later.

[ElliotRitchey]

My main problem with church membership would more so be what becoming a member entails. To be adopted by our Heavenly Father one simply must have faith in Christ. If we confess Christ is Lord with our mouth, and believe that God raised Him from the dead, then we will be saved and thus be members of his body. Now, to become a member at a local church there is usually much more involved. Why is it that one could be a member of Christ's church and yet be rejected by a local church?

[bradjohnson]

I attend a church that offers communion to everyone with a warning. I believe that the Lord's table is reserved for member's only and I have read about the practice of "fencing" the table which fleshed out had the elders offer communion only to communicant members. I wish that more congregations did this.

[casey]

The issue with Membership is it is a contract which has requirements on both sides of the agreement. If a Church has contractual obligations to the members and vis versa, than it make sense, but in the average Church there is no obligations.

The Biblical ideas of "taking care of the widows" and any other requirement of care for "members" has been delegated to the State, which every Church I have ever been too has been encouraged.

The idea of "membership" implies at minimum "like faith and practice" which in the day of watered down and ambiguous Statements of Faith has become somewhat meaningless.

In most Churches the Pastoral authority centralized in one person makes the role of the Church to it's "member's" more of a "are you in the pastor's inner circle" or not. Though I could see membership being meaningful if you had a Church led by a number of Elders.

Membership implies rights, privileges and requirements which are concrete. I don't see that in the modern Church.

[darylstotts]

They can keep track of your giving or not giving.

[sierragrey]

This is especially an issue in America where we think of ourselves as consumers. The seeker-sensitive movement has reinforced this. Confessionally Reformed churches recognize the importance of church discipline as a mark of a true church. Membership underlies this and is a commitment between the congregation and the member.

[stiffzewge]

It's the third time I am watching this video, it is just so helpful and such an important question every Christian must answer and know, thank you Pastor.

[chesterhobbs]

Why would there not be a recognition of those who congregate habitually and support the church by their actions, gifts and titles?

[LukeK.-hebv]

I just don’t get why people fight it so much?? Like whether it is explicitly in the Bible or not, why do people get so up in arms at this idea? Of publicly committing yourself to a group of people you love and worship God with. I think it’s a beautiful thing.

[francsiscog]

Your argument would suggest that people of one church cannot speak against and judge people in another church. I think these passages are talking about people who claim to believe in Christ vs those who don't. Those who are members of the body of Christ don't have to be members of one specific church (Baptist vs presbitarian, Pittsburg vs neighboring cities...), instead it's people who claim to believe.

[salishsailing]

I think most churches wouldn't grant membership to Jesus if He approached them.