1 A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE ON CHURCH MEMBERSHIP By John A. Matthews (COC @ UNO officer) Winter 2003 INTRODUCTION The Bible does not specify a formal procedure for obtaining membership in a local church. The Bible does not even contain the word membership as it is commonly applied today. This fact has led many who claim the name of Christ to believe that a formal commitment to a local church is unnecessary. To deny the Biblical principle and importance of commitment to a local church is similar to denying the existence and importance of the Trinity another word the Bible does not contain. This paper carefully examines the Scriptures to better understand what the Bible has to say about personal commitment to a local church. The ultimate goal is that we may grow in the grace and knowledge of ou r Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for His glory alone (2 Peter 3:18). SPIRITUAL METAPHOR? Many are quick to point out that the Bible defines the church as a universal or spiritual entity. Several New Testament passages give credit to this perspective. In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul carefully outlines the reconciliation between Jews and Gentiles, made possible by the cross, that through faith in Christ Jesus we may become fellow heirs in God s household (Eph. 2:11-19). It is amazing to consider the contrast between the nation of Israel, a people physically chosen by God, and the church, a people spiritually chosen by God. In Galatians, Paul assures the reader that all who have expressed saving faith in Christ Jesus belong to Christ (Gal. 3:26-29). There is certainly a universal aspect to the church, in which, membership requires nothing more than saving faith in Christ Jesus. But to disregard the manifestation of this universal entity in a local assembly will only hinder our spiritual growth. The Bible has so much more to say. THE CHURCH AT CORINTH The New Testament portrays the church as a body designed to function in a local setting. I Corinthians 12 provides an excellent example of God s spiritual entity manifest locally. Paul, writing specifically to the church in the city of Corinth, magnifies the function and importance of the local church body. Paul makes it very clear that the body is composed of many parts (v. 14). Each individual believer constitutes one part of the body in this analogy. Paul goes on to say that this body is fashioned by God s design (v. 18). Every believer possesses a unique quality, a spiritual gift, given for the benefit of the whole (v. 7). Paul assures the
2 reader that God has placed each individual, and their complementing spiritual gift, in the local church according to His design. It is very clear, that no individual part of the body is ever independent of the whole (v. 21). This dependence is for the overarching purpose of unity and maturity in Christ (v. 25). It could not be more obvious that the body of Christ, a universal entity, is designed to be manifest in a local church. SPIRITUAL GIFTS WITH A PURPOSE The New Testament teaches that spiritual gifts are given for a very specific purpose: the benefit of the church body (I Cor. 12:7). This purpose becomes evident after examining many New Testament passages dealing with spiritual gifts. To begin with, the Bible confirms that the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to every believer at the time of salvation (I Cor. 12:13). Everyone who has been called to saving faith in Christ Jesus has been given the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. The manifestation of the Spirit in the life of every believer was made possible by the ascension of Christ (John 16:7, Eph. 4:8). Several New Testament passages outline specific spiritual gifts, each passage being united with a clear purpose statement. The gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 were given for equipping believers for service for the strength of the church (v. 12). Each purpose noted in Ephesians 4:12 goes hand in hand and is not an unrelated goal. Spiritual gifts were not given to motivate Christians to pursue merely one or two of these goals. Understanding the context of this passage, the gifts were intended for equipping believers so they can serve so the church may be strong and mature. This purpose is to be the pursuit of every believer until we attain maturity in Christ (v. 13). The spiritual gifts outlined in I Corinthians 12 are preceded by the statement that such gifts are given for the common good (v. 7). This entire chapter deals with the local church body, a functioning unit, and how spiritual gifts play an important role (vv. 8-11). In verse 28, the Apostle Paul says, God has appointed in the church, and then proceeds to list a number of spiritual gifts. Would it be necessary to exercise the gift of administration or the gift of helps in a church that is merely universal in nature? Gifts such as these are very necessary and very specific to the proper function of a local church. It is also important to note, that one individual believer does not possess every spiritual gift (I Cor. 12:11, 29-30). This would defeat the importance of giving diverse gifts for the purpose of unity and maturity within the church (I Peter 4:10). The context and purpose for spiritual gifts is very clear. Paul reminds us that spiritual gifts are for the common good by twice making the statement that every application of a believer s gift should be for the edification and benefit of the local church (I Cor. 14:12, 26). From these passages, we can conclude that the Spirit indwells every believer; that every believer is given a spiritual gift; that one individual believer does not possess every available gift; and that every spiritual gift is for the edification and benefit of the local church.
3 AUTHORITY AND STRUCTURE The church is described by the Apostle Paul as the pillar and foundation of truth (I Timothy 3:15). The implication of this statement is huge. No other institution, neither the government nor the family, is given such a privilege or responsibility. Certainly God would not allow the institution supporting His truth to function haphazardly on this earth. Instead, God has ordained authority and structure on both a universal and local scale. Christ is the head and ultimate authority of the church. Before His ascension into heaven, Jesus told the disciples to take the gospel to every nation, to teach, to preach, and baptize in His name. His instructions are binding by the fact that All authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him (Matthew 28:18). In Ephesians, Paul describes Christ as the corner stone of the church, the essential component for any foundation (Eph. 2:20). In a lesson on submission, wives are instructed to be subject to the authority of their husband, just as the church is to be subject to the authority of Christ. The husband is the head of the family just as Christ is the head of the church (Eph. 5:22-24). Jesus Christ is clearly the ultimate authority of the church, universal or local. In the local church, God has appointed a plurality of elders or overseers who have been given the gift to preach and teach (Acts 14:23, Eph. 4:11). Like all spiritual gifts, this gift is given for the purpose of edification and building up the church. The pastoral-teaching gift is bound by incredible responsibility and, if executed well, great rewards. Timothy was instructed by Paul to prescribe and teach the word and to pay careful attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching (I Timothy 4:11-13). In fact, Timothy was commanded to not neglect the spiritual gift that he had been given so that everyone would see the progress in his life and in the lives of those under his authority the local church (I Tim. 4:14-16). In a second letter, Timothy was instructed by Paul to preach the word regardless of the circumstances (II Timothy 4:2-3). From this passage it is very clear that a day would come, quite possibly in Timothy s lifetime, when men would select elders that preach and teach only what is comforting to worldly ears. This distortion of the word of God is visible in a majority of Christian circles today, as many professing Christians shy away from Biblical truths. Fortunately, by the grace of God, the elders or overseers who live up to the Bible s commands to preach the word and rule well are worthy of double honor (I Tim. 5:17). Not only are Biblically based pastors worthy of greater rewards, they are instructed to earn their living from the gospel that they so faithfully preach (I Cor. 9:14). The Scriptures clearly outline the responsibilities and the rewards for elders, God s authority in the local church. If not evident from the previous paragraph, the fact that elders have authority over the local church is mentioned in a number of New Testament passages. On several occasions Paul outlines the requirements for elders and deacons (I Tim. 3:1-15, Titus 1:5-9). He does this so believers will know how to function in the local church (I Tim. 3:15). Peter makes a very bold statement that elders should shepherd the flock and exercise oversight in the local church (I Peter 5:1-2). The elders authority and oversight is not reduced to inconsequential matters. Preaching and teaching, as demonstrated, is an incredible responsibility. In
4 addition, elders are responsible for the well being of the church. After carefully following the accountability plan outlined in Matthew 18:15-17, it is the elders responsibility to remove the immoral from fellowship in the local church (I Cor. 5:2-11). If we examine the instructions in Matthew 18 and in I Corinthians 5, it logically follows that in order to be removed from association, to be put out of something, a person must by necessity be a part of the association, a member. A concluding point, supporting the fact that elders are given authority over the local church, is found in Hebrews 13:17. Everyone who claims the name of Christ is commanded to, Obey your leaders and submi t to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Le t them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you. Once again, it is very clear, that the church is designed to function in a local setting. Christ is the head of the church and all authority is given to Him. Through this authority, elders with the gift to preach and teach have been given to local churches. Elders are accountable to God for shepherding His flock. They are responsible to preach the word, to uphold sound doctrine, and to expel from the church those who claim the name of Christ but live sinfully. As Christians and individual members of the church, we are to submit to the elders authority in the same way that wives are to submit to their own husbands. God has certainly established a model of structure and authority for local churches. THE BIG PICTURE In addition to countless New Testament passages dealing directly with the principle and importance of commitment to a local church, one should step back and consider the big picture. The overwhelming emphasis of the New Testament is God s unique relationship with his church: a people set apart for eternity. A majority of New Testament books are written directly to a local church, addressing specific concerns within the local church body. Throughout the New Testament, readers are given sound, infallible, doctrinal instruction, to be applied as living standards for all who claim the name of Christ. The local church and the authority of the elders construct the means by which professing believers are challenged toward spiritual maturity while holding them accountable to Biblical standards. It could not be more obvious that the spiritual entity is to be manifest in local churches until the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Although a formal procedure for obtaining membership in a local church is not specified, we learned from Scripture that a believer s commitment to a local church is vital to spiritual growth and maturity in Christ. The Corinthian church is an excellent example of the spiritual entity, manifest locally. The local church is made up of many parts; no part is ever independent of the whole. Spiritual gifts are given to individual members for the benefit of the other members in the church. Some are given the gift of preaching and teaching and qualify as elders or overseers. Elders are given incredible responsibility as well as increased rewards for Biblically executing their God-given authority. Church members are to cheerfully submit to the authority and leadership of Biblically sound elders who, in turn, are responsible for their souls. This relationship between members, between those in authority and those under authority, is for the purpose of unity and maturity in Christ. It is a committed relationship that we are told never to forsake in Hebrews 10:25.
5 CONCLUDING REMARKS The American perception in 2003 is largely self-centered and expresses rebellion toward all forms of authority. This self-absorbed independence has penetrated a majority of America s Christian circles. So many people and churches have fallen prey to the very predictions in II Timothy 4:3-4. American churches rely on a steady influx of people to help fund high dollar budgets. To preach the word will certainly be offensive and limit the potential for growth a sure pink slip for many pastors. In turn, elders stray from sound doctrine and teach only what is comfortable to the masses what Paul called the tickling of ears. The American perception has extended to the principle of church membership. Few enjoy the thought, let alone the command, of accountability and submission to church elders. Few accept the fact that their spiritual gift is to be used exclusively in service to other church members. As a result, a misconception of the principle and importance of church membership has evolved. A misconception this paper has attempted to clarify. Whether one signs a document, makes a public confession, or takes an oath under the elders, a formal commitment to a local church is essential to the growth and maturity of every believer a commitment every professing believer should joyfully accept. QUESTIONS FOR THE READER How would the spiritual gift of administration be used in a church that is merely a spiritual or universal entity? How would any specific spiritual gift be applied through service for the edification and benefit of the church body if such a body were merely spiritual? Would oversight be necessary in a church that is merely spiritual? Would it be possible for a church elder to exercise oversight over a local body, as the Bible commands, without God-given authority? Do you understand the Biblical principle of submission? Did you know that the same Greek word [hupo] is the basis for the word submit in the passage dealing with wives and husbands as well as the passage dealing with believers and elders? Who are the elders that you submit to as you ve been commanded in Hebrews 13:17? What are their names? Is there a difference between commitment and membership in a local church? Is there a difference, in God s eyes, between a written commitment and a verbal commitment?