Instrument-4-Christ

The Bible gives us many reasons to consider church membership, and I explored some of those in my last article. But some people also use Scripture to give us reasons to question church membership as we know it today.

A lot of it comes down to interpretive methods and the presuppositions that people have when they read the Bible. Many Christians embrace the idea of formalized church membership, while others raise valid biblical reasons against it.

So let us now consider alternative perspectives that challenge the conventional understanding of church membership. Let’s delve into these perspectives and examine the biblical principles that underpin them.

Church Membership Series:
1. It Is Time to Rethink Church Membership
2. The Evolution of Church Membership
3. Did the First-Century Church Have Members?
4. Does the Bible Actually Support Church Membership?
5. Biblical Arguments Against Church Membership (this article)

Emphasis on the Universal Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:13: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.”

Full Church Building

Some people argue that the New Testament prioritizes the universal body of Christ, composed of all believers worldwide, rather than individual local congregations. They believe, therefore, that formal church membership may create unnecessary divisions within the body and detract from the unity that all believers share in Christ.

Likewise, the Bible never actually mentions a membership list of any specific church. The emphasis on the body of Christ and the relationship that believers have with one another immediately upon salvation is a legitimate reason to say that all believers are part of the church whether or not they have their name on an official list.

Although not necessarily an argument from Scripture, some people also point out that structured church membership allows non-Christians to become “members” of local churches even though they are not truly part of the body of Christ.

Flexibility in Ecclesiastical Structure

Acts 2:46-47: “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

Some proponents of informal church fellowship argue for a more flexible ecclesiastical structure that allows believers to gather and worship in diverse settings, including homes, community centers, or outdoor venues. They point to the early church’s model of meeting in various locations and emphasize the importance of adaptability in fulfilling the Great Commission.

They may also argue that membership imposes unnecessary restrictions on a person’s freedom. They believe that individuals should have the freedom to fellowship with believers in various settings without being bound by formal membership requirements to one specific organization.

Primacy of Personal Relationship with Christ

Philippians 3:8: “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

Opponents of formal church membership may prioritize the personal relationship with Christ above institutional affiliation. They argue that salvation and spiritual growth are primarily based on individual faith in Christ and reliance on the Holy Spirit, rather than membership in a particular church organization.

Summary

While formal church membership has its benefits, we must acknowledge the biblical perspectives that some people give against it. The New Testament provides principles that emphasize the unity of all believers in Christ, flexibility in ecclesiastical structure, and the primacy of a person’s personal relationship with Christ.

As we navigate these diverse viewpoints, we need to recognize the opposing perspectives so that we can come to objective conclusions and extend grace to one another in areas of disagreement.

We all have our different biases, experiences, and traditions. Unfortunately, we don’t all always have an open mind or a willingness to listen, consider, and change.

In an upcoming post, I will do my best to consider practical implications and potential alternatives for fostering authentic Christian community in light of the perspective both for and against church membership. I hope that you will continue along with me with an open Bible and an open mind.

Do you think the arguments above are good reasons not to practice formal church membership?

As we continue our exploration of church membership, it’s crucial to delve into the biblical foundations that supposedly underpin this concept. While the term “church membership” may not explicitly be found in the Bible, Scripture provides principles and examples that churches have used to form the basis for organized and committed community life within the body of Christ.

Old Church Charter To be fair, everyone has their own biases and presuppositions when interpreting Scripture, so some of the following passages may present obvious evidence for church membership for some people, but others may strongly disagree.

I want to provide an objective look at Bible passages that are traditionally used to support church membership, but you are free to agree or disagree with the conclusions.

Community and Cooperation

Romans 12:4-5: “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”

The metaphor of the body used by Paul emphasizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of believers within the community of faith. Each member contributes to the well-being and function of the whole. Church membership, as seen through this lens, involves a commitment to participate actively and contribute to the communal life of the body.

Members used in this sense is the English word that describes the various limbs and organs of the body. It would also be appropriate to use the word parts so as not to imply that our understanding of church membership is biblical simply because we find the word members in Romans 12:4-5.

I would like to emphasize that body parts do not choose which body they are attached to, nor do bodies choose which body parts they want to have (bodies can, however, choose which parts they don’t want to have).

This passage is used, therefore, to show that believers should participate in the body of Christ because that is just the natural thing for body parts to do. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 is another passage with a similar theme.

Spiritual Leadership and Accountability

Hebrews 13:17: “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

This passage is often interpreted by Christians as an allusion to spiritual leaders within the church, especially pastors. The Bible recognizes the role of spiritual leaders within the church who provide guidance, oversight, and accountability.

Church membership involves a willingness to submit to the leadership’s authority, recognizing the importance of spiritual oversight for individual and collective growth. Those who choose not to become members are viewed as people who do not want to submit to authority.

Admittedly, this verse in Hebrews could also be taken to the extreme and interpreted in such a way that pastor-dictators would be allowed to run their churches in an unhealthy way.

Correction and Discipline

Matthew 18:15-17: “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.”

If indeed the early church practiced a system of church membership, that framework would have helped them implement the biblical principles of accountability, discipline, and restoration within the community found in Matthew 18. Church membership would have established a context in which accountability and correction could take place, with the goal of reconciliation and restoration.

Proponents of church membership often say that church discipline cannot take place outside of some type of membership structure. For example, parents do not discipline kids that are not members of their families.

The question then becomes, “Why would I want to become a member if it means that it will be more convenient for you to discipline me if I sin?”

But the point is that church membership would help a person avoid ever coming to that point. By committing to a church family and “submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:21), Christians invite other believers to help them walk in the light of Christ and avoid the darkness of sin.

Summary

The Scripture passages above suggest a commitment to a local body of believers for shared community and cooperation, spiritual leadership and accountability, and correction and discipline of one another. Different denominations and churches may have various practices related to formalizing membership, but these practices are often built upon these biblical principles.

The essence of committed and organized community life within the body of Christ aligns with the overarching biblical narrative of interconnectedness, accountability, and mutual support.

In the next article, we will consider alternative perspectives and biblical reasons that challenge the conventional understanding of church membership.

Do you think these biblical passages provide support for our contemporary understanding of church membership, or do you think they describe something different?