Why Church Membership?
A Strange Thing Some Churches Do
My wife and recently were voted in as members of our church. For some this is a common practice at your church and for others this is as foreign as the idea of church is to an unbeliever. For some people, the idea of church membership may feel too formal. It may feel unnecessary or even wrong for others. Is this an example of being too much like the world or being too exclusive? I don’t think so, but I will explain.
Before going further, much of this information is covered in a small book by Jonathan Leeman called “Church Membership” and it produced by the 9Marks organization. In the book he covers the importance of church membership, examples drawn from scripture and the practical benefits of being a member at a church.
Leeman’s main point is that the church is much like an embassy in a foreign country. If you are the citizen of a specific nation visiting a foreign country and you need help and assistance, you would be wise to seek out and go to your nation’s embassy. At the embassy your credentials would be investigated and verified. If you were a long term visitor and your passport expired, you would go to that embassy for it to be renewed. At the embassy they would validate your citizenship and once validated you would be subject to all the rights, privileges and benefits of your home country.
Now, let’s think of this as the church. The Bible tells us that we were once sojourners (travelers who are not permanently living somewhere) and that we are not of this world. (Eph 2:19, John 15:19) Those of us in Christ are visitors to this planet, our kingdom is not an earthly one. (John 18:36) We die to this world when we become alive to Christ. (Eph 2:1-10) We are also warned not to become conformed to this world, which means to not be like the world we live in. (Rom 12:2)
In many ways, we Christians are displaced in this world when we are born again. We have no home, we are not accepted by most and in many instances we are hated because of Jesus. (Matt 10:22) Much like living in a foreign country, without an embassy we are ‘up the creek without a paddle’. However, the church is like the lone bulwark embassy propped up in the midst of hostile territory. When we are outside of the ‘embassy’ we are vulnerable but inside the walls we are safe and amongst our fellow citizens.
Most Christians would agree that there is no benefit to being a “lone ranger” Christian. In fact, if you are in a good church they would tell you clearly that a Christian alone is a dangerous situation to be in. We are called the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27) and the body itself is made up of many members. The Body is specific and purposeful and is not just a nice way of saying “a bunch of people together”. We as Christians need each other and the Bible points out that we should not dismiss the assembling of ourselves together (going to church). (Heb 10:25)
Where else in the world would one as a Christian be able to go? Should the Christian become bedfellows with the world? Certainly not. Even counselors know the importance of keeping good company. Should the Christian rely on support from those in the world? Again, no.
Since the Bible calls us ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20), perhaps there is significance to the whole embassy thing. An ambassador is a person that represents their country in another country. For example, when I was in the Navy we would visit foreign ports all of the time. Each time before going out into the town, we would receive a reminder that we are ambassadors for the United States in the country that we visited. This ultimately meant that we better behave ourselves and not embarrass our country by doing something that would disparage our reputation or shine a negative light.
Every ambassador has an embassy. Every Christian should have a church. The church should be a place of rest and restoration. A place of equipping and evaluating what is true verses what is false. The church is the place where we as Christians should be strengthened and encouraged, to do the work of the Gospel.
But what does all this have to do with church membership?
If we were to use the example of what a club-type membership looks like, we see that when people join a club they typically agree to follow the rules and regulations set forth by that club. They are saying “I want to be a part of this, and I’ll act like it”. If a club member doesn’t follow the rules, the club has the right to revoke that person’s membership. Enter the idea of church discipline.
In the modern era of buffet style church attendance (meaning picking and choosing churches that best suit your needs) church membership instills the importance of accountability and responsibility to the local body of believers. When one joins a church as a member, they are submitting to the authority of that local church body, and that body is also agreeing to validate that person’s citizenship in the Kingdom of God. When someone decides to deviate from the rules of the church the governing authorities of the church have a right to and must enforce biblical standards among the believers. This concept actually protects the church body and affirms the truth of scripture. It quite literally is a process of shepherding.
The process of biblical discipline hinges on the idea that we as believers are in covenant with each other. In fact, the Bible itself is themed around the idea of covenants. In a covenant, both parties exchange promises and consequences of keeping and violating said covenant. When a Christian in a local church body does something discipline-worthy, without proper discipline, could cause great harm to the church.
When Paul admonishes the church in Corinth to cast out the man who was sleeping with his father’s wife, Paul makes the point that casting him out was for his own benefit. (1 Cor 5) That man is no longer entitled to the rights, benefits and privileges of his former church. This action is taken in hopes that the man would come to his senses, repent and be restored to fellowship with his church. What good will discipline do, if the person continues to enjoy the privileges he has within his church and remains in sin?
Church membership holds both the church and the member accountable to one another. Church membership validates the faith claims that a person makes. In today’s world, anyone can claim to be a Christian, but church membership allows that claim to be examined in light of church doctrine and theology. Church membership ensures that proper attention is given to every member of that body, in order that the process of sanctification within the church is able to come to completion the way God intended.