Church Membership Part 1

This week at Resolve we're going to spend some time thinking about the importance of church membership.

'In a society that is best summed up by the word individualistic the idea of belonging is becoming less and less understandable to this present generation. Certainly the idea of belonging and committing for the long haul is a challenging one and in many ways is alien to the culture that we experience day in day out.

That membership of a local church is at such low ebb is a representation of this cultural understanding of belonging. Thus churches providing statistics of membership will often claim that more people come regularly than is reflected in these statistics. The average Christian seems to consider church membership to be a matter of optional choice rather than Biblical direction.

This understanding, it seems, is partly born out of a desire for convenience- what suits us. It is representative of commercialism- what our tastes are. It reveals something about our lack of clarity- which sounds like, ‘we’re not really sure what we’re looking for in a church.’ All of which is often, either consciously or unconsciously expressed in a sentence like ‘we’ll stay while it satisfies us.’ The challenge for the Christian is that belonging to a church is not to be founded on a basis of convenience, individual tastes, or personal satisfaction but rather in response to the clear Biblical call to belong and serve His people through membership of and ministry in the local church.

What does the Bible say?
This should always be the first question that we ask in regards to our Christian life and practice. The New Testament clearly assumes church membership and its existence (e.g. 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31). The Epistles are overwhelmingly addressed to groups of Christians in particular cities. That the individual’s walk is a community project is clear from the number of references made to collective accountability, challenge and encouragement (Hebrews 10: 19-25). All these things are to happen between one Christian and another in a committed relationship to one another.

The words of scripture do not point to a makeshift, freelance approach to one another in church but of an established, committed investment in the lives of our brothers and sisters. The people of God (you and I) are to be a building, they are the house of God founded strong, deep and sure (Ephesians 4: 19-22). May I ask you; why then are we, in the most important aspect of our lives and in the most significant calling in the world satisfied to appear like a gazebo (Ephesians 4: 14-16)? The Christian cannot, must not, should not adopt a ‘wherever I lay my hat, that’s my home’ approach to the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5: 22-30). It is a matter of deep importance, one that requires our diligent attention.'