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"Church" Membership

 

1. Here are a few thoughts that one might find useful in considering whether to seek membership in a "church," assembly or fellowship.

a. What would be your purpose in seeking membership? (Think about that purpose carefully).

 

b. What price would you be willing to "pay" in order to fulfill that purpose, by way of membership? (Consider your conscience, your standing before God and your witness/credibility with others as potentially part of that cost)

 

c. Is the Concept of Membership Scriptural?

2. It is understandable that organized denominations and even local assemblies would promote the practice of "membership" in order to achieve a number of goals: legal protection, administrative advantage, disciplinary matters, control, and bragging rights. But, there is no scriptural justification for an assembly to implement the contemporary practice of "membership" and there are several scriptural reasons for not implementing them, including these as follows:

a. (I Chr 21) "Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel .... that [he might] know [the number]". God punished Israel for this census (verse 7) and David admitted that he had sinned by ordering it (verse 8). David wanted to know how many people he had. He could then compare his strength to that of other nations and could revel in the thought of 'being King' over so many people - a sin of pride. But the children of Israel were God's people. He knew how many people he had and he alone would take credit for their strengths and for their successes. The Church today engages in similar demography by way of membership, wherein church membership rolls provide a vehicle for competitive attendance records and statistical comparisons.

 

b. (II Cor 10:12) "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." Are membership rolls used to compare numbers and to measure attributes of the body?

 

c. Nowhere in the bible are we instructed to establish a membership roll.

 

d. Paul addressed Christians as "the church of ...", "all the saints at...", "the faithful brethren in Christ at ..." etc. These titles refer to the location of their congregation; not to the form of their organization. The organization is defined as "Members of the Body [of Christ] (I Cor 12:12-31)

 

e. Today's churches for the most part pattern themselves after the world's system of governing by corporate executive (the pastor is the CEO and the elders are the board of directors, treasurer, secretary, etc). The early church did not use such a system. Men were appointed to positions in the early church by virtue of their dedication and their spirituality; not by their popularity, influence or money. Roberts' Rules of Order were not used in the Apostles' day, but are the standard for church business meetings everywhere, just as in the world's governing bodies (parliament, military, etc.).

 

f. The composition of the Body of Christ is such that there are many members, but one body. There is to be no schism (division) in the body (I Cor 12:25). BUT membership inherently causes division. By having membership, the Body of Christ is automatically divided into "members" and "non-members". We believe that this division is an unscriptural one. The only scriptural divisions we are commanded to make are those that involve people who promote false doctrines. We are to mark them and to separate from them. (Rom 16:17, II Thess 3:14, I Tim 6:5, etc). Other Questions to Consider:

3. Some other questions to consider might include:

a. Is agreement to a Statement of Faith required to become a member? (Probably)

 

b. If so, can you agree to all of the doctrines without violating your conscience?

 

c. If you can't agree to all of them, are any of them critical doctrines that would require people to separate from you for disagreeing with them? For instance, would people separate from you (or withhold membership privileges) if you disagree with Pre-Trib?

 

d. How about if you disagree with Speaking in Tongues, or Slain-in-the-Spirit phenomena?

 

e. How about if you disagree with Eternal Security, Baptist Bride doctrine, Predestination, Baptism, or the term "Local Church"?

 

f. If membership should be withheld for any of these doctrines, then shouldn't fellowship be withheld too (II Thess 3:14)?

4. It is worth noting that no mention is made of membership rolls or membership cards in the New Testament "church". (Acts 2:47) "... And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."

 

5. There is an "ownership" that's associated with numbering things. God doesn't want us to number people because we don't "own" them.

 

6. We understand the legal reasons for membership and for a constitution - among which is to prevent troublemakers from suing for arbitrary discrimination. But, God has always protected his people when their hearts were oriented towards him. We see no scriptural basis for becoming partners with the Government/court system as our means of ensuring our safety and support against malefactors.

 

7. Perhaps at the heart of this is a misunderstanding of what the "church" really is. The church is not a corporation, a club, or a charitable organization (despite the fact that many in the church enter into partnership agreements with the government). The church is also not a building or a meeting place (despite the fact that many in the church often refer to them as such.)

 

8. The church is simply the group of disciples (John 8:31) that Jesus said he was planning to assemble together into his body ("build my church" - Matt 16:18). It is often referred to in components based on geographic location, such as, the "church of Ephesus", the "church in Sardis", or the "church of God which is at Corinth", etc.

 

9. These statements reinforce the fact that God does not dwell in temples made with hands (Acts 17:24) but he lives in people (I Cor 6:19). It is the people (church) to whom he refers; not the building, not the organization, not the "Local" church, and not the denomination. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matt 18:20) Selah.