In the evangelical realm, the idea of church membership is a pretty standard idea. Throughout almost most variants of “Christian” theology membership is a common trait. This then begs the question of “what is church membership?” The Bible clearly lays out the concept of membership to the global church as well as a local body.
Does the bible talk about church membership?
Yes! Throughout the Bible there are references to direct membership in a local body. As well as various commandments, which a lack of membership would make them impossible.
Here is just one great example of the inference to as well as the essential nature of membership.
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Hebrews 13:17 ESV
The two major factors pointing to the nessecity of membership from this passage are these:
- “Who are these Christians supposed to submit to, if not the leaders of a local church.”
- “Without some type of membership, who are these leaders meant to be responsible for.”
With these two ideas in mind, you can clearly see the give and take associated with a HEALTHY church and its members.
There are two types of church membership.
The bible covers the idea of membership in two different ways, Global as well as Local.
Global Church Membership:
When we speak of “The Global Church” we are discussing the idea of every person who has been saved by Christ and professes His life, death, and resurrection.
The wonderful thing about this is the fact that regardless of where you are from or are currently located, there is an extended family of believers that you can fellowship, study, and associate with. This extended family is truly global.
The only “requirement” for membership in the global church is the salvation of Christ. No other formalities needed.
** however many claim the need for baptism to achieve salvation. The salvation happens… then as an outward expression of the already and fully completed salvation, baptism is customary to be true to the Bible’s teachings.
Local Church Membership:
The local church membership is what we normally think about when we discuss membership. This is where a person expresses a willingness to commit to a local church as their primary place of worship/fellowship and the church accepts that person (family) into the church as members.
There is no formal decree within the Bible that lays out the “steps needed” for membership. Every congregation does this a bit differently. In my experience, in most cases this membership affirmation includes a profession of faith, assuring that the new member is biblically sound and theologically aligned with the church. This will HOPEFULLY root out any sticking points or bare spots before joining a church.
Churches may also include stipulations such as, a formal application, interviews with elders, delivering a testimony in front of the congregation, service requirements, etc.
Is church membership biblical?
As previously mentioned in Hebrews and throughout the rest of the New Testament, the logical imperative of church membership is clearly spelled out. The functional usage or implementation of church membership is also pertinent in the resolution of the negative aspects of the church.
Church Discipline!
In 1 Corinthians 5, you can see the ability of the church to root out sin and employ proper church discipline is only possible due to the accountability. Although Paul is quick to point out the failings of the church in Corinth, the fact that the sin was able to be found, judged, and dealt with was due to the accountability associated with membership within the local body.
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. 6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
1 Corinthians 5:1-12 ESV
Pros and Cons of church membership
Great list of verses about church membership
Hebrews 13:17 ESV
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
1 Corinthians 5:1-12 ESV
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
Romans 12:4-5 ESV
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Acts 20:28 ESV
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Acts 2:47 ESV
Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Hebrews 10:25 ESV
Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Acts 2:42 ESV
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Romans 12:5 ESV
So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Ephesians 2:19-22 ESV
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians 4:12-16 ESV
To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
1 Peter 2:5 ESV
You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Acts 6:1-15 ESV
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. …
1 Corinthians 12:12 ESV
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
Ephesians 3:10 ESV
So that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
Acts 2:41 ESV
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 ESV
I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Romans 15:5-7 ESV
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
John 4:23 ESV
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
Matthew 16:18 ESV
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 18:17 ESV
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Ephesians 4:12 ESV
To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
1 Timothy 5:17 ESV
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
Colossians 1:24 ESV
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,
Galatians 6:10 ESV
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
