Is Membership Taught in Scripture?

Admittedly, the phrase “church membership” does not occur in the Bible. This may seem strange at first, but consider other words not found in the Bible that we commonly use: Trinity (describing God’s existence as Father, Son, and Spirit), evangelism (describing the act of commending Jesus to others), and missionary (describing a person committed to commending Jesus to the nations). These are just a few examples of words we use to describe what the Bible teaches.

“Membership” is another descriptive word. There are many passages in the Bible that are impossible to obey apart from a meaningful, identifiable, quantifiable connection of one person to one local church. For example, consider Hebrews 10:24—25: “Consider one another to provoke to love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is common among some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” First, there is the command: “Consider.” Second, there is the assumption of a meaningful relationship: “one another.” Third, there is the expectation that one way this group of Christians will “consider one another” is by “not forsaking the assembling…together.” Instead, they are to be “encouraging one another.”

In the New Testament, there are some 59 specific commands teaching us how we are to relate to one another—things such as the unity of the church (Mark 9:50, John 6:43, Ephesians 4:2, etc.), love for one another (John 13:34, Romans 13:8, 1 Peter 1:22, etc.), and humility toward one another (John 13:14, Philippians 2:3, etc.). Christian accountability is a biblical mandate for every believer to be practiced in a meaningful familial context—a local church (see Matthew 18:15—20).

There are a number of images associated with the church: the image of a building (1 Corinthians 3:9, Ephesians 2:21, 2 Corinthians 6:16), the image of a flock (1 Peter 5:2), the image of a family (1 Timothy 3:15, Ephesians 1:5), and the image of a body (Romans 12:4—5, Hebrews 12). A church member is described as a brick, a sheep, a child, and a member of the body. Each of these is an important part of something bigger than itself.

What Does It Mean to Be a Member of a Local Church?

Church membership provides God’s people with the nurturing care of a congregation, as well as a context for every member to minister to the body according to the will and pleasure of God.

The most concise description of the local church is Acts 2:42–47, ‘And they were devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being performed by the apostles. And all who believed were in the same place, and had everything in common. And they began selling their possessions and property, and distributing these things to all, to the degree that anyone had need. And every day, devoting themselves to meeting with one purpose in the temple courts and breaking bread from house to house, they were eating their food with joy and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding every day to the total of those who were being saved.’

Pastors of local churches are exhorted to pay close attention to themselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers, to care for the church of God, which He obtained by His own blood (Acts 20:28). As stewards of souls, they are to keep watch as those who will give an account (Hebrews 13:17). These biblical convictions shape the membership process at Trinity Church Southside, for the glory of God (Ephesians 3:21).

What Does It Mean to Be a Member of Trinity Church Southside?

(1) Conversion – Do you believe yourself to be a sinner in need of salvation, and that Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead for your justification (1 Cor. 15:1–4; Rom. 10:9–10)?

(2) Confession – Do you believe the Bible as contained in the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments to be the inspired Word of God and the only rule of faith and obedience? Do you believe the biblical teaching expressed in the words of the Apostles’ Creed?

(3) Commitment – Will you commit in the grace of God to follow Jesus by endeavoring to love through obedience to His commands (John 14:15), by practicing self-denial through the ordinary graces of the Bible, prayer, and fellowship (Matthew 16:24-28), and by submitting to the government and discipline of this church (Hebrews 13:17)?