What’s the Deal with Church Membership?
What’s the deal with church membership? For some Christians, church membership is a given; it is considered essential to the Christian community, foundational to Christian life and growth, and so much more. For other Christians, church membership can be strange; it sounds restrictive, it feels “culty,” and, if anything, it should be an informal arrangement. This contrast does not even scratch the surface of discussions around church membership. Looking even within the already small conservative reformed/evangelical world, you will find a host of disagreements regarding the nature, process, eligibility, and importance of church membership. Why all the fuss?
The matter only gets further complicated because the term “membership” does not appear as such in Scripture. Search for the words “baptism” or “elder,” and you will find dozens of verses that will immediately kickstart conversations and teachings on the respective topics. For membership, there is no list of verses. While that might not phase you, the word “Trinity” is not in the Bible; it should cause you to think. What is the deal with church membership? Why do some churches take membership so seriously? Why do some pastors make such a big point about people officially joining their membership? Despite its lack of direct mention in Scripture, why is church membership an issue worth discussing and (hotly) debating the nitty, gritty details?
Many fantastic articles already present the biblical case for church membership, the history of church membership, and the various processes of church membership. Therefore, I will not be covering that ground here. Instead, writing as an elder responsible for conducting membership interviews at my church (and, as a result, who often has to discuss the why of church membership), I want to share three practical whys for church membership. These reasons are not exhaustive but are based on conversations and genuine experiences. I hope that if you read as someone suspicious of church membership, these points will help ease your worries. If you are on the fence about committing to church membership, these points will make clear the blessing of church membership. And, if you are already a church member, these points will help you think and speak practically about your membership in a church.
For yourself
Do you ever have those Sunday mornings when you do not feel like attending church? Those days when you are just too tired, too drained, and cannot stand the thought of putting on a smile, sitting up for a sermon, and expending all the energy the church requires? I am not talking about days when you are genuinely sick, but those days when you do not want to go. We all have those days. But I think we all know that those feelings are not a valid reason to skip church (if you do, then we have more significant issues to worry about). So, what gets you out of bed and out the door to church on those mornings? If you are being honest, if you do make it to church on those Sundays, it is likely out of a sense of obligation.
The first practical point I want to make is this: That sense of obligation is a tremendous and gracious blessing, and church membership gives that sense of holy obligation body and context.
When you hear the term obligation, you might think of being forced or guilted into doing something, and that does not sound gracious or like a blessing. Or does it? Without being obligated by their parents, how many kids would eat their vegetables, go to school, or brush their teeth? Without committing to a friend (i.e., binding themselves), how many adults would stick to a fitness plan or read books? That is why people seek out gym partners and book clubs. We intuitively recognize that there are amazing, healthy, and beneficial things that we struggle with or do not do unless we have the accountability that comes with obligation to others. Practically speaking, church membership expresses this reality regarding spiritual life and growth.
In church membership, you are obligating yourself to a community of believers and publicly binding yourself to God to do all the things that are spiritually good for you: to trust in Christ as Lord and Savior, to believe sound doctrine, and to live life in line with that profession of faith. You gain the fixed and formal obligation to attend and receive the blessing of corporate worship, to pray to and seek the God who answers prayers, and to read and obey the life-giving Scriptures. Joining a church membership obligates you to do all these fantastic things. And thankfully, church membership, which is public and external, is a source of accountability that is not subject to your shifting levels of motivation and commitment.
For others
When you turn to the New Testament and read the apostolic instructions to Christians, you will notice a recurring theme. Christians are told to encourage (1 Thess. 5:11), stir up to good works (Heb. 10:24), show hospitality to (1 Pet. 4:9), bear burdens of (Gal 6:2), admonish (1 Thess. 5:14), and exhort (Heb 3:13) one another. By God’s design, Christians need Christian community and the Church.
Yet, those of us striving to grow in humility and grace often forget a critical aspect of this reality. Just as we may recall times when we needed help and support and the love and care of a church family, others require that from us all. By God’s design, you may very well be the person a brother or sister needs to encourage, stir up, or love. Joining and being an active church member, as opposed to simply being an attendee or mere congregant, reflects the reality that you are called to pour into the church, not just be poured into.
By becoming a church member, you publicly signal to your fellow members that you are present and committed to the relationships Christ and his apostles defined for Christians. In membership, you explicitly vow that, through thick and thin, you will be there to build up and keep accountable those around you, just as they will for you. Practically speaking, this is one of the greatest blessings you can give to a brother and sister who is hurting, struggling, or needing help. Church membership is the promise that you will be there for them, that they will have a family they can confide in, count on, and find comfort through.
Some people live by the quotation that “friends are the family you choose.” I believe there are both helpful and problematic sentiments in such a statement. But I think membership reinforces the truth that the church is the family God has chosen for us (Matt. 12:46-50). Church membership is a practical and powerful way to bless fellow believers by formally acknowledging that you are their brother/sister in Christ and are committed to loving and serving them through all of life's trials and triumphs.
For your leaders
This last point will be brief and comes as my personal and practical appeal as a church elder. By joining a church membership, you clearly state your commitment to submit to and follow a particular church leadership.
By their ordination, elders are commissioned to a holy and dangerous task. We are called to pay careful attention to all the flock, which God obtained with his own blood (Acts 20:28). Given this responsibility to care directly for souls, Christian teachers are warned that they will be judged with greater strictness (Jas. 3:1). Christ, as the great shepherd, cares greatly for his sheep, it is impossible to understate this sentiment. Therefore, as Christ’s undershepherds, elders have the tremendous duty of caring for the portion of the flock that the Holy Spirit called them to oversee. But who is this flock for which men will be held so responsible? The senior who regularly attends the church for many years? The young adult who visits just for a single Sunday while church hopping? The family who shows up every year for just Christmas and Easter services? Who is the flock?
Practically speaking, church membership is a way to present and distinguish themselves as someone a church eldership can provide leadership for. You commit yourself to submitting to their leadership, and they, in turn, commit themselves to shepherding you. Church membership lets elders know clearly where to invest their time, energy, and life as overseers.
Conclusion
Church membership is an amazing institution. It is not only biblical and historical, but, as I have endeavored to demonstrate, it is practical. By becoming a church member, you embrace a holy obligation to seek what is best for your spiritual growth, gain a consistent context to be there for and bless your brothers and sisters, and provide clarity for those responsible for shepherding souls.
In conclusion, I will offer one follow-up exhortation: Joining a church membership is just the beginning. These practical principles only apply when church membership is a robust, active practice. The blessings of church membership are only felt when the members embrace their rights and responsibilities. So, I encourage you to embrace this commitment with your whole heart. There are great and practical blessings in formalizing your relationship with a church; the underlying one is the relationship's maintenance and growth.
