The other day I spent some time with a man in our church who has been a member of First Anna for 70 years of his 97 years of life. He joined First Anna when he was 27 years old and never left. Based on the average pastor tenure of First Anna since he has been a church member he has gone through 28 different pastors and at least 2 church splits! That’s impressive! Not many people are that committed to a church and a community. When you talk to him you can tell this man’s legacy is wrapped up in this church. I love to hear him talk about the ‘good old days’ when he was vibrant and able to serve. I have not had the privilege of knowing him that way, but I love him all the same and appreciate everything he has done for First Anna over the past 70 years. This event and the rewrite of the First Anna’s Constitution have caused me to think about church membership. I thought it would be good to address what the Bible says about being a church member and why it is so important.
Why: Church membership is mentioned directly in the Bible but not the way many of us Americans think about membership. We tend to think of church membership very casually expecting very little but when the Bible speaks of church membership its words/context hold more weight. The ‘weight’ of representing Christ:
Romans 12:4-5 (English Standard Version)
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (English Standard Version)
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say…18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body… 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Ephesians 4:11-16
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
The above three passages speak of the members of the church as members of a Body; the Body of Christ. Essentially joining a church is joining a Body of Christ. This is best represented in the local church. So what makes a good church member? Some can be gleaned from the passages above but we can also add more detail to the title of Church Member.
‘What’ is a Biblical Church Member:
1.Christian: (I Corinthians 12:13)
2.Church Attendance:
… not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:25
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42
3.Love one another:
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10
4. Seek Unity/Peace with other members:
16 Live in harmony with one another… Romans 12:16
5.Care for one another spiritually through prayers and sharing God’s word:
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…’ Ephesians 6:18
6.Care for one another practically through food and meeting basic needs:
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Romans 10:13
26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. Romans 15:26
17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? I John 3:17
7. To hold one another accountable in a Christ like lifestyle:
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; Hebrews 12:15
8. Be willing to support their leaders and imitate their lives:
7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Hebrews 13:7
9. Conducting Church Discipline:
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. I Corinthians 5:1-2
5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. II Corinthians 2:5-8
10.Stewarding God’s Gifts
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:4-8
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Acts 4:32-35
11. Stewardship of the Gospel
18And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18
5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. I Thessalonians 1:5
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:6-8
12. Caring for the needy
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 3 9And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44 Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' 45 Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:31-41
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27
13. Committed to progressive sanctification:
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:1-5
14. Participating in the Ordinances:
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Romans 6:3-5
23For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. I Corinthians 11:23-28
How starts with Leadership:
As I write this my first thought as a Lead Pastor is, ‘am I creating a church environment that encourages these qualities in its members?’ Lately I have become more attuned to the things we do at First Anna to produce mature church members. Here are a few things I believe that must be done in order to produce these 14 traits in church members:
- Christ must be central to everything. The danger here is that churches could create a list like this and reward ‘good’ behavior with leadership responsibilities. But Christ must be the reason we do the things on this list, so by growing in these traits we grow closer to being made more like Jesus & having greater intimacy with our heavenly Father.
- Leaders must create a Biblical relevant worship service that teaches the Bible & is inviting to non-believers.
- Leadership should model evangelism & provide tools and opportunities for it in the life of church members.
- Leaders must create a culture of small groups. You can’t grow in all 14 membership traits without being involved in a small group…
The Small Group Environment is where we:
- Pray for one another
- Meet basic needs through meals and giving
- Most likely to find accountability/church discipline and;
- Where the commitment of progressive sanctification will be realized.
- Leaders must be clear & intentional about the steps of growth in their organization.
- Leaders must provide information quickly and continuously encouraging members to get involved in the different areas of church life.
- Create internal systems that encourage & reward Biblical church members.
- Leaders must celebrate the lives that are changed by the work of the Holy Spirit resulting in fully committed followers of Jesus/mature church members.
There’s more I am sure but as a Pastor I am committed to seeing First Anna be a church that changes lives and puts them on a path towards becoming the church members that God desires for them to be. This work is never finished!
Thanks for reading.