**The Power of Belonging: Why Local Church Membership Matters**
As believers, we’re called to be distinct from the world, to be set apart as God’s people. But how do we make this distinction visible and plain? One way is through local church membership. While it’s not a biblical commandment, it’s a necessary consequence of what’s in the Bible. In fact, the gospel creates distinct, visible, local churches, as seen in the book of Acts.
In 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, Paul writes, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” This applies not only to marriage but also to membership. We are the temple of the living God, a corporate singular reference to the church as God’s dwelling place. By identifying together with God’s temple, we’re called to separate from the world and its influences.
God himself practices and models membership, counting his people just two months after redemption (Numbers 1:1-3). This is one way we “be imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1). The early church also practiced membership, affirming the orthodoxy of gospel proclamation and the genuineness of gospel faith (Matthew 18:17).
Membership is not just about signing a piece of paper; it’s a covenant commitment between a member and a church. It publicizes and solemnizes our commitment to believe and live in a biblical, God-honoring way. By signing a statement of faith and a church covenant, we signify that others can count on us to teach and abide by doctrine and live according to commitments specified in the covenant.
In the Bible, local churches are seen as flocks of sheep (1 Peter 5:3), and membership helps keep us gathered under the protection of the shepherd. It’s unsafe to be a sheep without a flock, and membership helps church leaders know who belongs to the household. If a local church is a physical body (Ephesians 4:25; 1 Corinthians 12:27), then each person is a body part, and refusing to join a local church is like being a detached arm or leg.
Membership also helps us prioritize our love and discipling efforts towards specific saints, warts and all. It’s the people sitting next to us, across from us, and around us who are the most likely beneficiaries of our love. By being part of a local church, we’re saying, “These are the particular saints I’m going to prioritize in my discipling and love.”
In conclusion, local church membership is not just an optional extra; it’s a vital part of living out our faith in community with others. By committing to a local church, we’re committing to be part of the body of Christ, to be shepherded, and to be held accountable. So, let’s prioritize membership and experience the power of belonging in our local churches.
Leave a Reply