Are You A Member of a Local Church? If Not, Why Not?
"Why should I join the church? I'm saved. I read my Bible. I pray. I don't need to be a member of a church to be a good Christian, do I?"
These words are all too familiar to pastors. Yet, the Bible clearly teaches that if a person is truly born-again he will want to keep our Lord Jesus Christ's commandments (John 14:15; 15:10-14; 1 John 2:3-6; 3:22-24). And what are His commandments concerning church membership? Let's look to the Bible for these answers.
First, we must understand that the church program for this age is Christ's program (Matthew 16:18). That program consists of both a "Universal Church", which is invisible and mystical because it comprises all the born-again believers that have existed down through the church age (Hebrews 12:22-23), and the "Local Church(es)", which are visible, active organizations, working to fulfill the purposes of Christ on earth as His body (Acts 1:8; 2:41-42; 13:1-4; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Ephesians 5:30, etc.). Since every believer is automatically a member of the "Universal Church" we will only be considering the second aspect of Christ's church program in this article - the "Local Church."
David Cloud wrote the following in an article entitled, Para-church or Local Church? in O Timothy magazine.
"Consider: To what organization did God give the authority to discipline? The church (1 Corinthians 5; Matthew 18:15-17). To what organization did God give the authority to administer the ordinances? The church (1 Corinthians 11:1-2, 20-34). To what organization did God give the authority of oversight? The church (Titus 1:5-16; 1 Timothy 3). What organization is called the pillar and ground of the truth? The church (1 Timothy 3:15). To what organization did God give the authority of carrying out the Great Commission? The church (Matthew 28:18-20)."
Brother Cloud then summarizes his article in this way, "If God had intended that we establish Bible Societies, Bible Schools, Missionary Societies, and Missions Boards as institutions outside of the framework of the church, He would have given patterns for these types of things. He would have told us how such organizations would discipline themselves and what their leaders would be called. He would have given a pattern for their organization, but the plain fact is that God has not given such a pattern apart from the local church."
Brother Cloud is correct. There is no other organization on earth that has the biblical authority to operate in God's name outside the parameters of the local church. Since this is so, then what is the individual believer's responsibility to God's institution on planet earth? Again, we must defer to the Holy Scriptures.
First, the believer is to be baptized by immersion in the name of Christ by the local church authority (Matthew 28: 1920; Acts 2:41; 8:12). If a believer cannot be faithful to Jesus Christ in this one little thing, how will he be faithful in anything. A believer who refuses to submit to baptism by immersion is generally a carnal Christian who shows little spiritual growth and little spiritual fruit, there are exceptions to this statement, but not many.
Second, the believer is to join the rolls of the local church (Acts 2:4247; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 1 Timothy 5:9). Believers were "number(ed)" together in the early churches which shows that a simple form of church membership existed. Such a roll would be necessary to know who was eligible for financial support (Acts 4:35; 6:13; 1 Timothy 5:9). Too many people who claim to be bornagain view their relationship to the church like many unsaved people view marriage "Let's just live together". Its easy, if things get tough they on just walk away from one another. No strings. That is not God's program for the believer and marriage, and It is not God's program for the believer and the church!
Third, the believer is to join with other believers who agree with each other doctrinally (Acts 2:41-42; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 3:16; 1 Peter 3:8; Hebrews 10:22-25). All church divisions are the result of doctrinal heresy which stems from carnality [see 1 Corinthians 3:3] (1 Corinthians 1-4; 11:18-19). That is why the ecumenical movement is in error. "Christians" can't unite in the work of the Great Commission if they cannot agree on what the "all things whatsoever I have commanded you" are! (Matthew 28:19-20)
Fourth, the believer is to join with other believers in fellowship (Acts 2:42-47). The Greek word that is translated "feIlowship" in Acts 2:42 is KOINONIA which literally means to sit down and eat and drink with someone; it is related to the partaking of the Lord's Supper [see 1 Corinthians 10:16 where word KOINONIA is translated "communion"]. But, fellowship goes beyond sharing in the Lord's Supper, it is about forming personal relationships with other believers. It is about a sense of family. Believers need to make lasting commitments to one another.
Fifth, the believer is to Join with other believers in the partaking of the Lord's Supper (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 11:18-34). The ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper were given to the local churches to administer. A person should not partake in the Lord's Supper unless he is a member of the church. It is the tradition of men infiltrating the church that has given us an "open" Lord's Supper. The very term "excommunication" means to refuse to share in the elements of the Lord's Table with someone who is no longer in good standing with the church (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).
Sixth, the believer is to join with other believers in prayer (Acts 2:42; 12:5, 12; 13:3; James 5:14-16). The prayer service of the church is the most important service of the church, yet it is the least attended. Praying in the Spirit in accordance with the will of God is the most important act a Christian can perform (Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:26-27; John. 9:31; 1 John. 5:14; James 5:16).
Seventh, the believer is to join with other believers in the election of church officers (Acts 6:5-6). This responsibility helps ensure that only godly men are placed into positions of leadership which in turn assures that the doctrine and practices of the church are kept pure.
Eighth, the believer is to minister to other believers using the gifts that God has given him (Romans 12:3-21; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:7-13). This is not an option, every believer was given at least one spiritual gift for the edification of the body, not for their own glory (1 Corinthians 12-14).
Ninth, the believer is to teach and admonish other believers through the use of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Most believers in the churches today sing as if they wanted no one else to hear them. But God's Word tells us that we are to sing that all may hear! If your not a member of a local church, to whom are you singing?
Tenth, the believer is to join other believers in being an active soul winner (Mt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 8:1). There is no excuse for not soul winning. If you can't speak to your friends and relatives yourself invite them to your house and introduce them to someone who can (Acts 10:22-24), or witness through Christ like actions (1 Peter 3:1).
Eleventh, the believer is to support the work of the church through regular giving (Acts 2:45; 4:32-37; 11: 27-30; 1 Corinthians 9:9-14; 16:2: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 5:3-8, 17-18). Proportioned giving is the rule. In 1 Corinthians 16:2 we read, "...as God has prospered him...", this is a ratio, and the biblical ratio for giving is ten per cent (Genesis 14:18-20 cf. Hebrews 7:2). Tithing was practiced before the Law of Moses was given and the Old Testament practice of the ten per cent temple support is carried over into the New Testament by the teaching of the Apostle Paul, "Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the alter are partakers with the alter? EVEN SO hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." (I Corinthians 9:13-14). Because God's Word says "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart..." (2 Corinthians 9:7a) doesn't mean that tithing is no longer a New Testament principle, The rest of that verse says, "not grudgingly" which means the tithe should not be given grudgingly, nor should it be given "of necessity" nor legalistically, but from the "heart". That means that 10% of your gross income is where you start giving, not where you stop. If you do not give your tithe to a New Testament local church, then what unscriptural para-church program are you supporting?
The twelfth and final reason for becoming a member of a local church is to join with other believers in the work of church discipline (1 Corinthians 5:1-6:5). The very act of "put(ting) away from among yourselves..." implies church membership. We are commanded by God to be judges of each others actions but not hypocritically (Matthew 7:1-5 cf. 1 Corinthians 6:1-5). The authority to judge the actions of and discipline erring brethren was given by Christ to the church (Matthew 18:15-17). This commandment was given by our Lord to help the church maintain a pure Christian testimony to the world.
It can be readily concluded from what we have gleaned from the Scriptures that it is biblical for a believer to be added to the rolls of a local church upon conversion. God expects nothing less. To do less is a clear indication that the believer is not walking in the Spirit, but after the flesh. That is not the will of God.
As Jim Gent records in his excellent book entitled, THE LOCAL CHURCH: GOD'S PLAN FOR PLANET EARTH, "Clearly it is God's will for every believer to be a member of a local church. 'Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together...' (Hebrews 10:25). Church membership is God ordained, not man made. The early believers 'assembled themselves with the church' (Acts 11:26)."
So, the next time someone asks you if he must be a member of a church in order to be a good Christian, tell them YES!