Full disclosure update: As of 2012, I no longer attend a Calvary Chapel. While I still feel that church membership is not mandated by Scripture, I am now convinced that membership is beneficial because the member makes a clear commitment to be accountable for the church and be in support of the church.
A friend of mine, @kksine, asked me to read and comment on an article by Matt Chandler entitled Is Church Membership Biblical? which was published on the 9marks.org web site.
The question is a valid one: should there be a formalized process for determining who is and who is not a member of the local fellowship?
I agree with almost all of what Matt Chandler writes, my response is intended to provide clarification rather than rebuttal. We share the same goals but choose slightly different paths to get there. This is a preference issue and we have freedom to have or not have a formalized membership process in the local body.
Clarification #1 – Formalized Membership Process
Scripture does not mandate, nor does it preclude a formalized membership process. The verses cited in the article identify what should be done, but do not specifically indicate that a formalized membership process is necessary for compliance.
In 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 and Romans 12:4-8, where Paul uses the analogy of the Church as the Body of Christ, it is not necessary to infer a formalized process to determine who is a member of the body. In a sense, any believer who attends a local fellowship is a member of it, in that he is a part (the most basic sense of the word member) of the body of Christ.
I attend a Calvary Chapel which does not have a membership process. In Calvary Chapel, we have elders who make decisions with regard to church polity, we have church discipline, we have submission to the ruling elders [Update: The largest reason we left Calvary Chapel was because it is not elder ruled. There is an elder board but they are there to support the pastor in his decisions. Calvary Chapel has an episcopal form of government with the pastor holding the power.] and we know who is associated with our body. We seek to be obedient to Jesus Christ as a body and we seek to follow the Apostle’s direction as to how the local congregation should function. All are done without a formalized membership process.
Those who attend our fellowship on a regular basis have a sense of belonging and understand that to continue belonging to our fellowship, a submission to Jesus Christ, Scripture and the elders is required.
Clarification #2 – The Goal of Membership
The goal of membership is not stated in the article. Is the goal to determine who can vote and who cannot?
I can find no direct support in Scripture for a congregational form of church government. What I do see in Scripture is that the elders are to rule and lead the church. Scripture gives no indication that church members should be allowed to vote on church policy, the calling of a pastor, electing elders, etc.
Congregational government requires formalized membership as a means of controlling who can vote. If you want congregational government, you have freedom to do so, but you cannot make a case that Scripture demands this form of government.
Clarification #3 – Accountability and Church Discipline
In the article Matt seems to assume that without membership, church discipline would be impossible. I’d like to assure him that this is not the case.
I would turn this around and ask what he would do with someone attending his church without being a member who gives evidence of living in sin. Would he confront the sin? Or, is it only those who go through the formal process who are confronted? Do you allow the “sinner” to continue attending and only confront the issue when he comes forward for membership?
We have found that church discipline works without membership. When an issue comes to our attention, it is confronted. Typically what we find is that the one confronted either repents and works toward change, or he stops attending or goes to another church.
Clarification #4 – Maturity and Membership
Matt assumes that membership is necessary for a believer to progress toward maturity.
I agree that associating and belonging to a local fellowship is an expectation that Scripture places upon us. I also agree that belonging to a local fellowship is necessary for optimum spiritual growth. I do not agree that a formalized process and the signing of a document are necessary to have this sense of belonging.
In our fellowship, we see people who sit under the teaching of Scripture, interact with other believers in small groups, serve in the body and progress toward maturity, all without a formalized membership process.
Conclusion
There is nothing wrong with having a formalized membership process. Scripture does not have anything negative to say about this that I can find. If your fellowship functions in this way, I am happy for you.
My point is that it is not mandatory to have this formalized process. Many local church bodies function according to Biblical priorities without this process.
This is a preference issue and if you prefer membership, I’m totally OK with that.
I’m 6 years late to the conversation but I would like to share my experience so that any church considering putting in place a formal membership structure has another example of suffering to draw on.
I grew up at a particular church for 16 years but I wasn’t a Christian then (though I thought I was). During this time, the youth pastor we hired committed adultery with the mother of one of the youth he pastored (the youth pastor has a wife and several children of his own). Even after this, I stuck around. Shortly thereafter, I became a Christian. I still stuck around for a few years to volunteer in as many ways that I could. I was so excited to do it! But by and by, I realised that the church I attended for so many years doesn’t actually preach the gospel nor do they preach from the Bible. It’s all just feel-good messages every week. I was invited to a Bible study group that met far from where I was. It’s a 2 hour round-trip to attend this Bible study but I did it anyway for over a year and that includes winter where it snows and the road is icy, dark without lights in many parts, and steep – it’s one of the most dangerous roads close to city limits. But through all this, I still did not leave my church. One day, I had a “last straw” moment and I left for a closer church that did preach the gospel and from the Bible.
Flash forward many years later and I’m in a different church now. I was new to the city and new to the church but regardless, I opened my home and offered my skills/gifts to volunteer for them. I faithfully gave money once a month to help support the church. This church went through a bit of a rough financial spot those years and I gave above and beyond what I had to or really, could afford to. They have no doubt that I’m a Christian – the pastor told me multiple times and we’ve had opportunities to discuss theology and what it is that I and he believed in. We only differ on two items: Sabbath rest and membership. You can imagine where my positions are. What do they do to me? Because I did not join membership (I believe it is not biblical), they refused to allow me to serve in any capacity. “Serving is a privilege reserved only for members” is the motto. Yet, they are happy to take my money and anything else that I donate that they prayed for or needed. On top of this, I’m told that I’m not “submitting” and that I’m being unbiblical. I stuck with this church for years – I could’ve left at any time. I am so disappointed because some of their members mock me. “Membership is required of everyone – except you, of course.” They think it’s light-hearted joking but it stings so much. And what’s worse is that if I were to ask them to prove to me that membership is biblical, they can’t. This is what membership looks like.
You’ve got examples from other people below who have been faithful, generous, and committed that have been ostracised by something that proponents can only say that it’s “implied in Scripture”. That’s it. That’s all the proof they have – heavy reading-in of selective passages and verses. “It’s implied” is their standard of proof. And when you show that it’s not good enough, then they switch to, “Well, you’re going against hundreds of years of tradition. You stand alone in that.” The smugness is stifling. Membership is a trap – a shackling of those who have been freed. Those who support it have created an entire theology around it. Be warned, if you can’t prove it solely from Scripture with clear-cut proof, then you may want to think twice before implementing it in your church.
I agree with you 99% of this article you articulate most of my thoughts on this matter very well. However, the 1% we part on is that I see requiring Church Membership as unbiblical and presenting a major problem. Scripture does define membership to the body of Christ which includes the local body, that is by faith. Jesus Christ has already setup the stipulations to enter the fold, and Elders are not given the right to place another gate up in front the one Christ Jesus establish. By establishing a membership that differs from what Christ establish, you are basically communicating that you do not see someone as a fellow believer if they are not in your “formalize membership”. This is not Scriptural, and I can argue that it is a sin against God.
I agree with you that elders cannot stipulate criteria for membership that are different from what Christ provided. However this does not mean that we cannot practice church membership.
In the church I currently attend, the requirements for membership are faith in Jesus Christ and a willingness to identify with Christ through baptism. There are no other stipulations.
Another point not mentioned is the fact that many if not most Canadian and U.S. churches are set up as religious non-profit or charitable organizations. These organizations are legally required to be governed by an official constitution and bylaws. This often necessitates a board of directors. In most cases this board is elected from the church membership. This satisfies many legal prerequisites. A problem that can arise from this, a rare one at that, is that once a body is incorporated, it can be legally sued. The chairman of the board, the board members, and yes, even the members of the organization itself can ALL be held liable and sued for damages in a lawsuit. Their assets can all be ‘gone after’ in such a case. Although rare, these kinds of things are happening with an increasing frequency.
I think it’s necessary to make the distinction that the true church is for Believers (Ephesians 4:12). Those that seek should not be catered too, but preached the gospel. The gospel will sort the wheat from the chaff.
Believers should willingly submit. I highly recommend this short 3 minute sermon from Alan Cairns on church membership. http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=9709014111
May you be blessed in your search for truth.
Hey i think there is something important you need to get in regards to memberships..Seeker friendly churches who use their sunday service as an evangelistic tool and their small groups and other ministry areas as the place of spiritual growth have to make that difference of knowing that because some unbeliever attends their service on sunday doesn’t mean he has entered any form of relationship with christ yet or might not have reached the point of accountability…
The membership process in this scenario becomes a necessity and infact, I believe that the local church has to be open to believers and non-believers and if you look at Jesus Christ, he really did have a double standard when he dealt with the believers and the non-believers in terms of accountability!
1 Peter 5:5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders, Yes all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
Brothers, many have made excellent points and no doubt their our poorly led churches. When you find yourself a bible believing, gospel preaching, on fire for God church and the eldership desires you to become a member, become a member.
Unless they are asking you to sin I see no biblical reason not to submit to the leadership of the church. Hebrews 13:17. They are accountable for your soul and responsible to God for how they lead. Hebrews 13:7
why do we so desire to hold on to our autonomy? This is a big problem in America and in North American church people.
Membership has it’s privileges and I believe God will bless your submissiveness.
I’m humbled by God’s grace in my life when I became a member of a wonderful local assembly.
Kevin
membership can be in conflict with a believer and a hinderance within the majority of places of worship today…praying for great transformation within the walls ~ God has many outlets of use outside of church membership, and it is up to us to be a willing participant daily…thank you for your posts, remain faithful, brother in Christ~JESUS’ bountiful favor & grace over us ALL.
Mark,
Just found this article. I agree with many of your points but you do not hit it strong enough. Membership in a church is a sin.
1. it creates dysunity in the body. It splits the body to the members and nonmembers and nonmembers are looked down on as lessers because they do not take this unbiblical step.
2. congregational voting is opposite of how the church was set up in scripture. the shepherds are to lead the sheep. anytime the sheep vote no on something the shepherds have recommended they have become their own shepherds.
3. requiring membership for elder or deacon positions (have not found a church that has membership that does not) is a smack in God’s face. God laid out the requirement to qualify as an elder or deacon and did not include membership. Man in his arrogance decided he knew better how than God how to run God’s church and added an additional requirement to what God had already laid out.
Satan laughs a little every time a new church adds formal membership to their polity.
As you say, I’m not quite as far down the path of being so strongly against membership.
I agree with you on the effects that membership can bring. Add to your point #1 the tension that comes when two factions in a church apply leverage to other members to sway them to their position. It can get really ugly.
Thanks for dropping by and sharing your thoughts.
Mark, I have been active in the Church for my entire life, and have led SS classes, been involved with Men’s Ministry, worked with the College group, and worked with the Childrens Ministry. About 10 years ago, our church decided to use membership and now I am no longer able to serve in the church that meets in Gilbert Az. I serve the Church universal, daily. I am willing to submit to the discipline of the Elders of where we meet, and ask for the right hand of fellowship to be extended to me and my family.
The problem that I have with membership is, it is not Biblical. I know why churches want it. It is primarily to protect the leadership from legal problems, which in this world is definitely a concern. I believe by signing a document that commits me to submitting to the leaders without membership is possible. When God saved me, I became a member of the body of Christ. So by becoming a member of a local church, what more happens other than joining a club that is not the true Church. Now I don’t believe that many of the folks that are members of the club aren’t also true Bible believing Christ followers, but why does man add to what God didn’t institute. I don’t become more of a member of the body of Christ, because that work was accomplished on the cross by the One who saved me. There are so many deceivers in this world, it is sad that the local church has joined the world in their system, by requiring something the Bible doesn’t. I believe it is dangerous to add to Scripture and adding to the burden heaped on our shoulders. My family loves Christ to the point that we will serve no man but the Son of Man. Jesus died to set men free, not to shackle them.
I am very conservative in my beliefs, and some might say legalistic. I know that I am doing what I am doing out of my firm conviction that membership is man made and should be done away with. It is clear that the early Church met at different places, homes, steps of the temple, or wherever, but nowhere does it say they went to church, because the Church is people, not bricks and mortar. I wonder how many other members of the Body, are not allowed to serve in a capacity with those they fellowship, because they are sincerely following what they believe Jesus would have them do.
Anyway, Mark and all who read this, God bless and keep you, and do nothing out of compulsion, unless it comes from the Holy Spirit.
Jon Dekkers
Thanks Jon. For what it’s worth, since writing this post, I no longer attend a Calvary Chapel and am looking for a new church home. Several of the churches that seem to have their act together in our area have a formalized membership process. While I ague that membership is not mandated in Scripture, neither is it precluded. So I may find myself in a church which requires membership.
As you state, a piece of paper does not qualify me as a member of the true Body of Christ. But neither does that piece of paper hurt anything.
Perhaps you might view this as compromise but I if we decide that God is leading us to worship and serve at a church that requires membership, we will submit to that membership process.
To me it is sort of like getting a marriage license. For me, my marriage began when I committed my vows before God with our friends and family in attendance. The piece of paper from the state of Arizona was a requirement by the government, but that piece of paper means nothing compared to the commitment I made before God. I would be just as married without the state’s license.
In the same way, I am a member of the body of Christ whether or not I am a formal member of a local church organization. But submission to the membership process may be something that is necessary for the context in which I find myself right now.
Although I wouldn't lay it down as a legalistic demand, I do favor the use of a formalized membership commitment (which my own denomination happens to use). The reason isn't so much about congregational government (although my denomination has that, too), but rather it's about that very word: commitment. In my experience, people today are too willing to "church-hop," or to "take their ball and go home" when conflicts arise, or when the church makes changes and no longer meets their personal tastes. In the marriage covenant, a Christian vows to remain with his/her spouse even when things get rough, when changes happen, or when conflicts arise. This covenant, when kept, teaches us charity and forgiveness and unselfishness… i.e. it makes us better followers of our Lord. The same applies to a church membership covenant and the commitment that goes with it. So you don't like the new worship music? You're unhappy with that sermon series on stewardship and tithing? You volunteered to teach a class but the pastor chose someone else for it? OK, so all those things ARE frustrating and bothersome. But do you have the charity and forgiveness and unselfishness to stick it out and stay committed? Or do you just turn your back on everyone and look for a more "suitable" place?
One additional side point on the question of congregational government… Jesus seems to allude to it in Matthew 18, with the third/final step of resolving an unconfessed sin. "Tell it to the church," He commands. Not the leadership or the elders or the bishops, but "the church." This sounds, to me at least, like an assembly of the whole congregation.
Seth, we know how you feel. My wife and I attended a Calvary Chapel in Goodyear AZ for a little over 2 years. The Pastor and Leadership went to Mark Dever’s Church in Washington DC for Pastors training. They came back with lots of books from the 9marks ppl that said in order to be a good “Healthy Christian” you must become a “member” of a local church. During this transition to formal church membership, my Pastor invited me to a 9marks workshop in Phoenix Az. During the Q & A part of this workshop the majority of the questions asked were about excommunication. After much prayer, study and meetings with our leadership, my wife and I decided that we would not participate in our churches membership process. We still considered this church our home church until last week. We received an E-mail from an Elder informing us that we could no longer be a part of the prayer chain ministry because this was “against church policy”. We can’t pray for our brothers and sisters on a prayer chain? I agree with Seth that this is more than just a preference. This is a man made legalistic law that separates sheep from sheep.
BrandandBon,
Thanks for sharing your experience with this though I am sorry that you had to go through it. I’m partly ticked off and partly sad that this kind of thing happens in churches. The good news is that Jesus remains faithful even when his church does not. I’m praying that you find a community of grace.
BradandBon,
I feel for you. You’re in a rough situation too. Hope the Lord works through it to bring you many blessings!
I really like this article, and have always just tried to submit to the pastor and elders without becoming a member. I always consider myself to be under their delegated authority. I find myself leaning more every day to an elder-led church as opposed to congregationalism. Though in the end, in a fresh/new start situation, you still end up having a vote on the elders.
Mark, I have to disagree somewhat with you. I think it is an issue that is more than just preference. The 9marks ppl usually tend to push this past the preference idea and into “you’re sinning if you don’t believe in this.” I was kicked out of a 9marks type church simply for not becoming a member. For 4 months I went to their meetings and entered into their fellowship and spent time with them whenever I could. Then they told me to leave for not submitting and joining. I think any non-essential theology that leads to Christians to do such a thing is far past the “preference” stage.
Seth, I’m sorry to hear of your experience. I sometimes tell people that I am a Christian in spite of the Church, not because of it.
I termed it as a preference because the leadership of any church has to decide if the local body they lead will have membership or not. I’ve seen good churches in both camps.
But, given your experience, I see your point, they didn’t allow you to make a choice.
I hope that you find a local church body that will allow you to be blessed and be a blessing to others.
This issue of Church Membership is surely more vital than the manner discussed. The above post is an obvious set-up. One party says He’s good based on a predisposed position, its only natural that the other says i’m sorry for you. Navigating between Law desirers and Grace extenders – our lives will flip-flop between the good and the bad even ugly.
May God help us to see beyond ourselves and our blessings. Even today the church is associated with the Cross – The symbol understood as sacrifice rather than penalty – i vote for honest sacrifice and confession towards the community called Christians.
My understanding – Membership according to those who practice it in a formal way and those who don’t, are calling for honest self sacrifice for the glory of our Lord. Serve where you are planted and time with grace will sort the details. If disagreement exits over the practice, you are better off serving elsewhere.
Jckingdom: Thanks for taking the time to comment. Agreed that we are to practice self sacrifice and serve where God has us.