In doing some serious study on membership and what that looks like in the Church at a local level one encounters a potential problem. It just isn’t there. That’s not to say it is bad, wrong, or sinful to have formal membership rolls, as having such is very practical and quite helpful to local pastors and leaders, but despite what is taught in the seminaries and what best-selling Christian authors like to claim, the practice isn’t found in Scripture.
What follows is an outline in which we systematically look at all the arguments made by the pro local church membership teachers, and an examination of Scripture to see if their claims are valid.
I. Pro local church membership teachers claim: “The Bible uses metaphors to describe local churches, such as ‘flock’, ‘temple’, ‘household’ and those are used specifically of local churches (See Acts 20:17-38, Ephesians 2, 1 Cor. 12, and 1 Timothy 3).
A. These examples may or may not be speaking of local churches, but they are not talking about who is a formal member of a local congregation. They are simply saying that a local congregation exists. The passage in 1 Cor. is talking about the entire Church as a whole (not a local congregation), 1 Timothy 3 is talking about the qualifications of elders and deacons, but nothing about local membership is mentioned.
II. In 1 Corinthians 14:23, where it states that if “The Whole Church” is assembled, they argue how will leaders know if the “WHOLE” church is assembled if there was no formal membership?
A. Paul was speaking figuratively. He is not saying that a leader should or should not know if the “WHOLE” church has assembled. He is saying “What if it did… What if the Whole church assembled and everyone was speaking in tongues, how would an unbeliever know what was going on?”
a. So again, nothing really about membership here, or how to know if the whole church did assemble. It could also be that Paul had in mind the ENTIRE Body of Christ, rather than a local congregation.
III. It is argued that pastoral oversight and spiritual leadership requires a formal membership (See Acts 20:28, 1 Timothy 3, Phil. 1:1, Titus 1:5-9, Hebrews 13:17)
a. Acts 20:28 says, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to ALL THE FLOCK, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the Church of God, which He obtained with His Own blood.”
i. This is directed to pastors and it is teaching that a pastor is to pay attention to themselves, and to ALL THE FLOCK, in which the Holy Spirit has made them an overseer. In order to care for the Church of God, which He obtained with His Own blood. This verse is clearly referring to ALL THE CHURCH, as Jesus did not die for only a local congregation, but all true Christians, in congregations all over the world – thus ALL THE CHURCH Meaning that the Holy Spirit has appointed pastors, and those pastors are to serve in that role throughout the WHOLE CHURCH. So yes in a specific, local congregation, but also as they travel, or move to other churches. If a local congregation was truly in mind here, then the pastor would stay with that local congregation from the time he was called to the role of pastor, until he died.
b. 1 Timothy 3 says absolutely nothing about individual membership, but rather is giving qualifications for pastors and deacons.
c. Philippians 1:1 says, “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons.”
i. This is a greeting to the Christians and elders located in Philippi. It is directed to All the saints, and to those who have been appointed as pastors and deacons, who reside in Philippi – but it says nothing about a formal membership roll. Just that the Christians in the area gathered as the church in the area.
1. In Biblical times there was one gathering of believers (the Church) in each city. They didn’t have denominations or 3 Baptist Churches, and 3 Methodist Churches, and 2 Presbyterian Churches in a single town. The Christians in a community all gathered together in one place.
ii. There is no doubt that the Christian in Philippi were members of the Body of Christ, but we know nothing about them being on a membership roll for the local church in Philippi.
d. Titus 1:5-9 says, “This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you – if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick tempered, or a drunkard, or violent, or greedy for grain, but hospitable, a love of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy Word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
i. In this passage, Paul is saying to Titus that he left him in Crete so that he could appoint elders in every town. Those men were to serve as elders in those towns. This passage says nothing about multiple congregations in each town, but rather a single congregation led by an elder in each town. The elders/pastors (as discussed above), were to be elders over God’s Church, regardless of where they were. Again, nothing is said or implied here about members on a roll. Rather it is saying elders are in those positions within the Church, and specifically in the community in which they reside.
IV. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
a. This passage does say that Christians are to obey their leaders and that they are to submit to them. But it does not say that your leaders become so once you sign a membership roll. If any type of vetting is implied here, it is of the leaders in the Church. Not every person who claims to be a pastor is actually qualified or called to be a pastor. Pastors are those who have been appointed by the Holy Spirit, as evidenced by meeting the qualifications of elders given in Scripture, and as evidenced by preaching sound doctrine. There is a local element involved here, but nothing about membership on a church roll. More could possibly be said here, but it pertains to the pastors, not necessarily the members.
b. It is said that the meaning of the word “join” in Acts 5:13 implies local church membership. Pro-local church membership advocates argue that after the judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira no others dared to “Join” the church. The Greek word for “join” means to “commit oneself to something” but is it the local church that is in mind here? If we look at the context (Acts 5:12-14) we read the following, “Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever, BELIEVERS WERE ADDED TO THE LORD, multitudes of both men and women.”
i. In context, it is clear that none of the people dared join with the apostles on Solomon’s Portico, as verse 14 clearly states that multitudes of people were being added to the Lord. It is also interesting that Luke says, “Multitudes” of both men and women were among those added to the Lord. One would think that if a formal roll was being kept, he would give an exact number.
1. It is rare in the book of Acts to find an exact number. Even in Acts 2:41 it says, “ABOUT 3000 souls were added.” Not an exact number but an approximation.
c. It is stated that there must be a local membership for there to be meaningful Church Discipline (See Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 – if a person is “removed” they argue that the person must have been in some kind of distinct formal association).
i. Matthew 18:15-17 says, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
1. Even though this passage says, “Tell it to the church” this does not mean that those within the “church” have signed a membership roll. It is saying, “Tell it to those Christians who assemble in that area.” No formal membership roll is required for this to take place, nor is one mentioned here. The next instruction is that the offending brother who does not repent is then to be treated as a Gentile or a tax collector, meaning he is to be viewed as an unbeliever. Nothing is said about removing them from the assembly in this passage or removing them from a roll… but simply to think of them, view them, and treat them as an unbeliever (in other words, they don’t need discipleship they need to hear the Gospel and be saved).
ii. 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 says, “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.”
1. Is formal membership is required for a person to be removed from the assembly of the gathered saints? The answer is – No. Just tell him he is no longer welcome. You can meet him at the door and explain that his behavior is not accepted, and harmful to the church, and until he repents he is not allowed to gather with the rest of the church. This may seem unloving, but it is what is taught in this passage. This is probably the strongest argument for a formal membership, but again, it is not explicit, and may not even be implied. Having a membership roll would make this process easier for sure, but it’s not required for faithful church discipline.
d. Again; Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” They state that this command assumes that you have a covenant with leaders. They are responsible for you, and you to them. And thus you have the benefit of receiving care and being held accountable.
i. We must ask: Can and does this care and accountability only go into effect upon signing a membership roll? Or does it happen because the Holy Spirit has appointed leaders over the Church? Does this care and accountability only happen when one becomes a member of a local congregation? – Or does it happen the moment a person is joined to Christ by grace through faith? Is the leader only the individuals leader by means of the individuals signature on a membership roll, or is he the individual’s leader because the individual gathers with the saints, listens to the leaders preaching and teaching, and follows him as he follows Christ?
1. Granted; it is much easier for a pastor to watch over those who are on a formal church roll, but if someone who claims to be a Christian from another city comes seeking help/counsel from a congregation and/or pastor from a different city/town should that congregation and/or pastor refuse that person such aid just because they are not on the roll?
V. It is said that formal church membership shows that you are not ashamed to identify with Christ and His Church.
a. Nope… Baptism, faithful attendance, and faithful Christian witnessing does that.
VI. They argue that being a formal member of a local congregation one will have greater opportunities to use spiritual gifts (See 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4:11-16).
a. Neither of these passages speak anything about formal membership. 1 Cor. 12 speaks of spiritual gifts within the Body of Christ (the whole Church, and it should be pointed out that the members of the Body of Christ, are not local congregations, but individual Christians). The gifts of the Spirit are given to build up the Body (the Whole Church), and yes, of course local congregations will benefit from that, but – the idea here is to build up the WHOLE BODY OF CHRIST, not to make a local congregation stick out and appear better than other congregations, which are also made up of individual members of the Body.
b. Ephesians 4:11-16 says, “And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up THE BODY of Christ, until we ALL attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the Head, into Christ, from Whom the WHOLE BODY, joined and held together by every join with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the BODY grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
i. It seems clear that this passage has the entire Church in mind, rather than local congregations, and once again, nothing about individual, formal, local church membership is mentioned or implied here.
VII. It is stated that formal church membership demonstrates the reality of the Body of Christ (See 1 Corinthians 12:27)
a. We must ask, how can a single, local, congregation demonstrate the reality of the Whole Body of Christ? The passage in question says, “Now you are the Body of Christ, and individually members of it.” Again, let’s ask, how does one become a member of the Body of Christ? Is it through signing a membership card, or roll? No – it is by being added to and placed in the Body of Christ, by grace, through faith, by the Spirit of God. Being on a roll does not, nor can not demonstrate the reality of the Body of Christ. Saints gathering together to worship in Spirit and in truth, and having love for one another, despite cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic differences demonstrates the reality of the Body (Jesus said, “By this all men will know you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Not if you sign a membership roll).
And so, I cannot say that formal, local Church membership is a “Biblical” Doctrine, but at the same time, I advocate for it for practical and pragmatic reasons.
Keep in mind, just because something is not explicitly or implicitly stated in Scripture, that does not make it a bad thing, or sinful, in and of itself. A local congregation gathering in a sanctuary is not explicitly stated in Scripture – as the “Church” is made up of the individual people… not the building they meet in, and yet we do that, meet in the same building every Sunday, because doing so has made it easier and more efficient to worship, and teach God’s Word. And it is nice to gather in one place. The time may come when we gather in secret places and the location changes from week to week, but for most of western history, local congregations have gathered in set locations.
Preaching behind a pulpit is not explicitly stated in the Scriptures, but again, it is nice to have a pulpit in which to rest the Bible upon and to draw the congregations focus to the exposition of God’s Word.
Partaking in the Lord’s Supper is commanded, but the frequency in which a congregation does that is not. So one congregation may do it every single Sunday, while others do it once a month, and others do it quarterly.
The modern form of Sunday School is not found in Scripture, but it’s a good and effective way to teach and train disciples, if done properly.
How an individual does evangelism is not explicitly laid out in a step by step, systematic process, as long as the believer is correctly and faithfully sharing the Gospel with the lost, he or she is being obedient to the Lord.
Membership in a local congregation is not inherently bad or sinful, or wrong, but the purpose for it should be well defined, and it should remain within Biblical parameters; meaning that a church roll should never be used to manipulate or abuse individuals.
Like I said last Sunday – the purpose of our membership here at Fairview Fellowship is to have guard rails and fences. Guardrails keep the local body on the straight and narrow path. Fences keep the predators and wolves out. Our membership is point out those who have entered into Gospel Partnership with us… those who have locked arms with us in our doctrine, our theology, and our mission. And our membership is for the purpose of vetting those who would serve as ambassadors of Christ. We do not want the Name of Jesus blasphemed, or besmirched in any way, nor do we want those who are lost teaching false/incorrect doctrine, or leading our brothers and sisters away (be it intentionally or unintentionally). We agree that non-Christians should not be teaching our children, or discipling our children, or working with our children in a church setting – as they are not rightly equipped to teach the things of God.
