Is church membership biblical?


Next translated offering from Ayuda Pastoral (Help for Pastors):

Is it right to have a system of local church membership?   What principles are there for a balanced view of such a membership?

The New Testament does not give us detailed information about local church practices.   We don’t know the times and forms of services nor what were the customs about admitting someone to church membership or even if such a list existed.   These things need to be worked out in our own context.  However there are some biblical principles involved:

There existed a system of recognizing church members.  Passages which deal with church discipline show that there was a way of knowing who belonged to the church (Matt. 18:17;  3 Jn.  1:10).  Of the 75 uses of the word “church” in the New Testament,   most refer to a local one with people recognized as belonging to it.

Basic knowledge about Christ was required for membership.   For example the Phillipian jailor was taught simple Christian truths by Paul before he was baptized  (Acts 16.32).    This basic teaching was sufficient for him to become a Christian and so a member of the church.  See also  Matt.  16:16-18;  1 Jn.  4:2.

Faith in Christ is essential.   Paul says that it is necessary to confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts to be saved (Rom. 10:9).    So it is insufficient simple to know information about Jesus,  the person must trust in him as their saviour.  See also  Jn.  20:31;  Heb.  11:6.

Christian behaviour shows the validity of faith in Christ.    A person might claim to be a Christian, but how is it to be know if they are genuine?    Jesus said that by a person’s fruit,   or conduct,  sincere Christianity is shown  (Matt.  7:19-21).  People’s lives indicate that they are Christ’s and so privileged to be part his body,  the church  (1 Cor.  1:2:  Jn. 15:1-5).

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