The Importance of Church Membership
The church consists of everyone in every era and every nation that has been born again. But it is expressed through local churches.
God’s plan is for every believer to be meaningfully added to a local church and become a functioning part of the body. (Acts 2v41, v47, 1 Cor 12, Eph 4) Often the reference to an illustration, a picture, a story within scripture is given so that we might understand what the true meaning is without the need for long explanation. Many people seem to miss the simplicity of these images so we have added further explanation below.
Just imagine that God has called you to be an elbow but you cannot find a body in which to express yourself. Deep down you know that something is wrong for you know that you are designed to be a living part of a body along with other members. Now imagine finding that body and placing yourself into position alongside the shoulder, arm and hand of that body. Wow, it's a perfect fit. Well that's what the Bible classes as 'membership', you are expressing yourself not as an individual part but are membering with the other body parts. There's even better news. Imagine how much more your life as an elbow will be enhanced when you discover there's a hip, leg and foot ready to take you to new places.
We encourage you to become a living member of a body, functioning together with other members.
That's Christ's design for you and me, together we make the body function as a body.
Terry Virgo writes: individuals who have never experienced the joy and delight of belonging to a loving and vital Christian body have missed one of the thrills of the Christian life. Mere church-going' was never in God's plan for you. He wants you very closely knit with a group of dear friends with whom you can share your life.
Reasons why we are convinced of local church membership
The New Testament's structure: The epistles are written to local churches on the assumption that all believers would be members of local churches.
It is stated in the bible: Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about 3000 thousand were added to their number...and the Lord added to their number daily (Acts 2v41&47).
It is implied in the bible: The kind of descriptions of life amongst the early believers (e.g. Acts 2-4) implies an up-close-and-personal community that is only possible in the form of a local church. Furthermore, a consistent biblical metaphor for the church is that of a body - an intimate functioning body, not just a worldwide 'cyber' body.
New Testament language of leadership and following: The bible cautions church leaders that they will be held to account for how they lead (1 Cor 3', Heb 13), and equally followers are instructed to obey their leaders. This obviously presupposes a situation where you know who is leading who, and who is following who!
New Testament discipline: Paul instructed his churches that in cases of ongoing unrepentance, they should finally resort to putting people out of the church. It is indeed staggering that some believers voluntarily choose to live in this state!
"Jesus goes out for the lost sheep so that he can bring them back to be with the others"
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