Recently I was privy to a discussion on the subject of church membership. I have always been amazed at how touchy people can become when the issue of membership arises among "the brethren". It stems, I believe, from the erroneous notion based in tradition that one's membership in a church is a sacred bond or trust, tantamount to a stock investment in a company, never to be touched or changed by the corporation, or in this case the church, only by the member or stockholder himself/herself.
This perception on first glance might seem right on target, especially in the light of the "Entitlement"-prone culture in which we presently live. However, our standard of measure is not the culture, but the Scripture, God's Holy Word. When this perspective is lined up accordingly, what we find might actually surprise us.
First of all, church membership, as we know it, being an official name on a roll for statistical purposes and denominational "bragging-rights", is not all to be found in either the Old or New Testaments. What we will find is a very different definition of church membership than what we have come to understand. Church membership in the New Testament, in particular, is the Providential location where God has chosen to place a person for service and worship. Proof of one's faith in Christ was shown in one's life and devotion to His teachings as well as time spent with fellow believers in worship and spiritual growth. It did not reside in the files of church offices and stay there until requested by members or other churches. It went automatically with the believers as they traveled from place to place.
This is why Paul's letters are addressed literally to the "assembled believers" (ekklesia) at Ephesus...Colossae...Philippi, etc. Wherever the believers in Christ were located, they were "members", that is, there they worshiped and served. They were already members of Christ's Body, the universal Church. Location didn't matter. When they moved from Ephesus to Philippi, they didn't "transfer their letter"; they simply moved and attached themselves to one of the house churches at Philippi and started serving and worshiping Christ there. In other words, their "membership" went with them. There was no such thing as leaving one's membership at a previous location for any reason.
Secondly, the New Testament makes it clear that, unless one is hindered by sickness or physical constraints that prevent one's being a part of worship and service at the local fellowship, not to do so brings into serious question one's own salvation at best if not invalidating it altogether at worst. For those who elect not to join in fellowship with the church in which they are members because 1) they have been offended by actions or words by others within the church or 2) they don't like the way the church has decided to do this thing or that or 3) a myriad of other possibilities that they can pursue, hear what the Scripture says:
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (rf. Hebrews 10:25)
Note the encouragement at the beginning for those who are of the household of faith: "...hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering...consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds". Obviously, we must be together to do these things. That's why "forsaking (the) assembling together, as is the habit of some" is detrimental not only to do those who do it, but also to the rest of the fellowship because it weakens us all when we all are not present.
They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. (rf. I John 2:19)
John here in context is establishing the principle that true faithfulness in fellowship is one of the key signatures in real and abiding salvation. We are drawn together because of Jesus Christ, secondarily because of our love for each other. If we have a problem with either of those two reasons, then the problem is with our own hearts and salvation has more than likely never been experienced.
However, assuming that I have been saved and I am a church member, simply put, to be a part of Christ's Church is a huge responsibility. Although the church body is responsible for displaying to its members the love of Christ (rf. John 13:34-35) and for extending to me opportunities to worship the Lord and fellowship with His people, I am responsible to be a viable asset of the particular gathering of believers God has selected for me at this time in my life. I am responsible to worship Him there in the lifting up of my voice in prayer and praise as well as in the giving of my tithes and offerings consistently to the work of His kingdom. I am responsible for serving Him through the various ministries and missions opportunities afforded me through this particular local fellowship. If I expect this fellowship to do these things in my stead or to beg me to do that for which I alone am responsible, then I am the one who is self-centered, disobedient and sinful. In such a state, I can expect no great blessing from God until I repent and return to the path of obedience and faith once again.
May this walk down "membership lane" serve to encourage us all to take serious stock of the great benefit God has given us in being a part of Christ's Church. After all, if Jesus gave His lifeblood for Her, is it too much to ask that we be committed members in service to Him?
