Scriptural Arguments for Church Membership

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by Matt Troupe on June 5, 2011

We are working through a series on discipleship and the fourth message will be some teaching from scripture on why our commitment to the church should be defined rather than a casual "come and go" approach. Some people object that the term "church membership" is not in scripture....true enough. But there are plenty of other terms we could use if you prefer. Here is a catalog of some scriptural arguments for having a defined commitment to a local church- whether you call it membership or not!  Here is a downloadable version of these arguments.

Scriptural Arguments for Church Membership

 

  1. The metaphors applied to the local church imply a well-defined commitment and connection. (Body, house of God, flock, etc.)
    1. Members of a body- I Cor. 12:13-37
    2. Flock (Acts 20:28)
  2. In the book of Acts believers were “added to the number.”  Someone was keeping a role of the believers.
    1. Acts 4:4 “But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.”
    2. Acts 4:32 “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.”
    3. Acts 6:2 “And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said,”
  3. The Church is often referred to in terms of “the whole church.”
    1. Acts 15:22 “Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.”
    2. Acts 16:23 “Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you”
  4. People are said to “join” the church in the book of Acts.
    1. Acts 5:13-14 “None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,” (see also Acts 9:26, 17:4, 17:34)
  5. The use of the concept of “insiders and outsiders.”
    1. I Cor. 5:12 “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?”
  6. Raising up leaders. In the book of Acts the apostles to the church in Jerusalem to “pick out from among you seven men of good repute…” (Acts 6:3)
  7. Leaders are to shepherd particular groups of people who are their responsibility, the “flock of God among them.” (Acts 20:28) Who are members of that flock? Who are they to shepherd?
    1. Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.” Who is a pastor to take care of? As a pastor who am I going to give an account for?
    2. I Peter 5:1-3 “So I exhort the elders among you…. shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”
  8. Christians are supposed to submit and respect their leaders. Who are you to follow if you are not committed to a specific body with specific biblically qualified leaders? Who are you to esteem?
    1. Hebrews 13:17 “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.”
    2. I Thess. 5:12-13 “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”
  9. How can we practice church discipline biblically without a well-defined group of people that are “members” of a local body? 
    1. Jesus says that there may come a time to “tell it to the church” if someone will not repent (Matt 18). Who are we to tell?
    2. Also Paul tells the church in Corinth, “Let him who has done this be removed from among you.” (I Cor. 5:2) Who is the unrepentant brother to be removed from?

 

So the big question is this: are you a committed member of a church somewhere?