Confessions of an Elder

Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this joyfully, and not sadly, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Hebrews 13:17

The concept of "church membership" has changed drastically in my lifetime. Some of that is for the good. For many in our tradition the concept of being on the church's formal list of membership was thought of as being a prerequisite to getting into heaven. Personally, I don't buy that. Jesus told the righteous of his era that there would be many going into the kingdom ahead of them. But, the concept of consumerism in the church world has destroyed the concept of community. Today, people shop for a church like they would for a nice social club. When I find a church that meets my needs, then I will consider membership; but, in the meantime feel free to never make a commitment to the local congregation. This kind of thinking is toxic to one's spiritual development.

While one will not find the term "membership" in the New Testament, you will find passages like that in Hebrews 13:17 that call for leaders to "shepherd" a congregation. When one places membership, he or she is giving permission to the leadership for spiritual advice. A church is a voluntary commitment of believers to live in community. How we live makes a difference. The conduct of members is vital to the spiritual health of a church.

In 1 Timothy 5 Paul goes into a rather detailed set of instructions regarding the care of widows and who should or should not be “enrolled” into the church’s support. This may not relate to modern church membership but it at least makes reference to developing a list of people falling under the care of elders. Further, in discussing church discipline, Paul gives instruction in 1 Corinthians 5 to take the immoral man and put him out. You cannot really put someone out if they have not in some meaningful way been “put in.”

Membership in a church facilitates the practice of spiritual discipline. It does not guarantee it. We preach the "kingdom of God". But, when one is born into the kingdom he or she is in need of a family where one can be nurtured and taught. That necessarily implies a commitment to the local congregation. We are imperfect people trying to be like Jesus. When we allow people to be carried as members whom do not attend, participate in ministry, pray, or ever become involved with teaching, we do them a disservice. There will always be room for those whom are honestly searching for the truth to come and participate. That is part of our evangelism. But our goal is for every person to "put on Christ" through baptism and to become part of the church visible. Only Jesus has the final authority to decide who is "in" or "out" on the day of judgment. But, being part of the body of Christ implies an active participant who is in fellowship with the saints of a local congregation.