Membership Matters

Recently, several conversations have made me realize that I have failed to adequately teach and explain to our church family the importance of church membership and why it matters.

The New Testament was written to local churches to address issues going on inside those bodies of believers.  We simply cannot escape the importance the local church has in the Bible.  The biblical prominence of the local church implies that the local church has significance to God and therefore should to us as well.

While membership in a local church is not specifically commanded, it is definitely implied (The doctrine of the Trinity that God exists as Father, Son, & Holy Spirit is never specifically mentioned or explained in the Bible, but it is definitely implied.).  We see this implication about membership in several ways in the Scriptures --

In the NT people were commanded to meet together on a regular basis. This implies a strong connection and commitment to a group of Christ-followers.

In the NT people in the church were subject to discipline by the church.  If there is no commitment and no membership, how can the church carry out this command?  For example, I discipline my children (not yours) because they are members of my family.  I Corinthians 5 is all about whether or not the church should "expel" someone who is behaving immorally.  These are specific instructions to a local church where someone inside that church, a member, is behaving inconsistently with the teachings of Christ (see I Cor. 5:12-13).  The fact is we all need discipline from time to time but discipline cannot occur where there is no authority and membership to a local church places you under the spiritual authority of that church.

In the NT people in the church practiced accountability with each other. The early Christians were commanded to encourage each other to remain true to God, to go after wayward brothers & sisters, and to speak the truth in love.  All of this implies that these people were connected in a way deeper than, "How are you today?" Fine. Thank you. How are you?" They had joined together and submitted themselves to one another to walk together as Christ-followers.  This implies a strong and formal commitment to each other, to Christ, and to His church.

In the NT people were commanded to submit to church leadership (see Hebrews 13:17).  This means that each believer was supposed to be part of a church and under the leadership of that church.  I will add that this does not mean the church is a dictatorship but that leadership in the church is to be servant-based.  However, we cannot ignore the fact that God appoints leaders to serve the church and keep her focused on God's mission, AND those leaders will be held accountable according to Hebrews 13:17.  Here is the question: if people are not formally committed to a local church then who is accountable for them and who are they accountable to?  The answer:  NO ONE and that is an unbiblical position.

Additionally, the NT assigns elders with the role of protecting the flock (see more below), and they are held accountable by God for doing so.  How do the elders know their flock unless the flock is a "member"? (see Acts 20:28) and placed formally under the elder-shepherds of that specific church body?  Once again the implication for formal membership in a local "flock" is very evident.

In the NT the spiritual leaders were charged with protecting their flock from false teachings (see Titus 1:9-11).  The NT local churches had people other than just pastors and elders in teaching roles.  After all, they met in homes spread out throughout a local community.  To ensure that the "flock" was being taught correctly, the elders must ensure those entrusted to teach adhere to some core doctrines of the faith.  Through membership, the church is able to ensure that people subscribe to the same basic beliefs, doctrines, and theology.

This is one reason we have for requiring that anyone who teaches or facilitates a Rock Bridge small group (children, students, or adults) be a member of the church.  Our membership class covers our vision, values, and beliefs.  This way we have some means of ensuring that anyone who teaches is on the same page in terms of what we believe about the Bible, Jesus Christ, and the church.  In this way, membership serves a protective function over the local flock.

Common Questions:

Aren't all Christians members of the church?

Yes.  All Christians are part of God's universal church.  However, biblically we see that the church is both universal and local.  The universal church is somewhat invisible and includes all believers throughout all time.  The local church is designed by God to be the local expression (in time and context) of the universal body of Christ.

Does membership go against God's radically inclusive grace?

While the church must be careful NOT to make membership legalistic, we cannot ignore that God intentionally places His children into a community of committed Christ-followers.  Additionally, God's grace is what produces within us a desire to obey and follow God.  Part of obeying God clearly includes participation in and submission to a local church family.  Therefore, we do not join a church to be accepted by God but we join because we are accepted by Him; therefore, we joyfully accept & obey His commands as part of His good and perfect will for our lives.

At Rock Bridge can I still serve if I am not a member?

YES!  There are many ways to serve at Rock Bridge that do not require membership.  However, for teaching/shepherding roles we do require formal membership.