Local Church Membership

When a local Church gathers for worship a wide variety of people might be present. Some who are lost and do not yet have a personal relationship with Jesus. Some who are saved but only attend services once every few months. Some who are saved but have not been baptized. Some who usually worship with another congregation. Some who are saved, baptized and attend the services on a regular basis.

When we consider this situation, it should be obvious that attending the service of a Church is not sufficient grounds for a person becoming a member. There must be some requirements for membership. Let us consider what requirements the Bible places upon Church membership.

Acts 2:41 links baptism with addition to Church membership. It says, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.'' (KJV)

This verse indicates that those who were baptized were added to the Church. Throughout the New Testament baptism is portrayed as the minimum step of obedience for all who trust in Christ. Baptism is a public act that testifies that we have accepted Christ as our Savior. The weight of New Testament example favors limiting Church membership to those who have followed Christ in baptism.

Another requirement for membership in a particular Church is commitment to its ministry. In Acts 2:1, we are told that the members of the Church at Jerusalem "were all with one accord (i.e. one purpose) in one place.'' (KJV)

Another requirement for Church membership is continued obedience to Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth, ``But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.'' (1 Corinthians 5:11-13, KJV)

The Church at Corinth was instructed to remove from its membership those who lived lives of habitual and wicked sin. They were to keep the membership of the Church pure and above reproach.

Let me summarize the Scriptural requirements for Church membership. To be a member of a local Church, you must be baptized as a public act testifying that you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, you must be committed to the local Church and its ministry, and you must be living a life free of habitual or public sin. If more Churches would hold to these simple guidelines, there would be less ammunition for the world to use to attack the Lord's Churches.

The Catholic Church

The Apostle’s creed states, “I believe in . . . the holy catholic Church, . . .”

The adjective catholic comes from a Greek word that means whole or complete. So the catholic church referred to in the Apostle’s creed is not the Roman Catholic Church or any other denomination, but the complete Church of God, sometimes referred to as the universal church.

Of all the New Testament, the book of Ephesians is best at explaining the concept of the catholic church. Some of its lessons include: Jesus is the head of the church (1:22,23). Believers are, the church is, gathered together in Christ (2:4-10). We are citizens of God’s Kingdom (2:19). The church shows the wisdom of God (3:10). In the church, glory belongs to God (3:21). The church should strive for unity (4:2-6). God gives believers positions of service in the church for its growth (4:11-16). We are called out of the world and its dark actions (4:17-19).

So as the church, believers have been called out of the world. We are gathered together in Christ. God has a plan and a purpose for his people.

It is the church that is responsible for continuing the ministry that Jesus began. We are to continue to help the needy and to share the Gospel with those who are not yet Christian. This work will not finish until all those who will be saved have been reached.