WHY SHOULD I

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WHY SHOULD I “PLACE MEMBERSHIP”? by Carl McMurray

From time to time folks move into the area, are restored to spiritual service, or come from other congregations and make known their desire to work with and be a part of the local congregation here. Sometimes the question in the title arises, “Why do I need to place membership?” they ask, “Doesn’t my attendance say I want to be part of the church?” or, “Doesn’t my presence here make me a member?” The answer to both these questions would be, “no”. Let me explain why some kind of practice of being identified with a local church is important.

First of all, if coming in and sitting in a seat makes you a member of a church, then does NOT coming cancel one’s membership? Does every visitor automatically become a member? We would be members whenever we visited other congregations. Instead of being just a Christian, by this reasoning I would be a Bap-Luth-Cath-Pentecostal, because I have visited all of these groups.

Someone might reply, “Well, that’s silly. It would take more than just a visit.”

To that I would have to ask then, “What’s the magic number of visits?” We have had people visit with us for months and not want to be called upon, not want to help with the work, and not agree with the doctrinal stands we take here. Eventually they move on, but how many visits would it take to make them “official” members?

Someone else might add, “But a person must want to be a member of a church.”

Really? In Acts 9:26-28 Paul came to Jerusalem and was trying to associate with the Christians there. He seems to have wanted to be part of the local congregation there in Jerusalem. He wanted to be a member, but the disciples were not buying it. They remembered Saul the persecutor and were having nothing to do with this Paul, until Barnabas arrived and spoke on his behalf. THEN, v. 28 says he was with them. It appears to me that being present is not enough, and even wanting to be a member is not enough. You see, fellowship is a two-way street. In Acts 9 it was not just something that someone wanted, it was also something that the local congregation extended (or didn’t extend, for a while it appears).

If fellowship (sharing together, partnership) in a local congregation is something which can be extended or withheld, then there must be some reason for these actions. Which brings us once again to the question, “Why should I place membership with a church?”

Although there are certainly other reasons to be a part of a local church family, two main ones come quickly to mind.

First, the example of Paul in Acts 9 demonstrates the proper attitude of wanting to be identified with a local spiritual family. It appears that Paul’s teaching efforts were put on hold until this matter got straightened out. That demonstrates the priority that he placed on being an accepted part of that local body.

Secondly, although it has become popular in that past 50 years for elders to oversee foreign works and churches, and even local churches across town or across the state, New Testament elders had no such authority. Acts 20:28 teaches elders to guard the flock over which the Holy Spirit made them overseers. That’s the local congregation and no one else. 1 Peter 5:2 tells elders to shepherd the “flock of God among you.” Again, that’s the local church and NO ONE ELSE. New Testament elders don’t guard, shepherd, or oversee other congregations, other works, or even visitors who come in and sit down in the assembly. Their only responsibility extends to the flock which is among them, the flock they were made overseers for, in other words the local congregation.

This leads us to the question of how shall God’s elders know who their flock is? How will they know the long time visitor from the committed sheep who desires to be overseen and shepherded. Since modern day shepherds are not mind-readers, only one way comes to mind. In some way, after some fashion, a person must let them know, “I want to be a member of this church family.” I don’t think we can be dogmatic about how that is done. There might be a variety of ways to communicate that desire for fellowship. But in some way, after some fashion, it must be done. And then it falls upon the elders/congregation to accept or deny that fellowship.

Note that we’re not making any “church rules” or demanding any set form. It’s like confessing one’s faith before baptism. There is no particular format or words or ceremony which must be followed, but in some way it must be communicated that you believe Jesus to be the Son of God. Else, why go into the water? It’s just common sense. Likewise, if one desires to have fellowship with a church family, to work with its elders, and share in the work that goes on there, in some way, let him say so. Let’s stop with the silly, “read my mind” objections.