My Faith Journey: "What is church membership?
This is a fair question and requires some clarification, because the New Testament actually points to two types of “membership.” First, scripture is full of references as to how every person who receives salvation through Jesus Christ becomes a “member” of the universal and eternal family of God. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 2:13-22; 4:3-6 This can be called “positional membership.” But then, the Bible also urges believers to continue growing by becoming “participating members” of a specific local church through active involvement in building up that church body.
Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; 14:12; Hebrews 10:24-25
The Church: The church is not a building. It is the body of Christ, of which He is the head. Ephesians 1:22–23 says, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” The body of Christ is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ from the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) until Christ’s return. Biblically, we may regard the church in two ways, as the universal church or as the local church.
The Universal Church: The universal church consists of everyone, everywhere, who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13). This verse says that anyone who believes is part of the body of Christ and has received the Spirit of Christ as evidence. All those who have received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ comprise the universal church.
The Local Church: The local church consists of a specific location with specific people, who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The local church is described in Galatians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle - not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead - and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:” Here we see that in the province of Galatia there were many churches, they had a localized ministry and were scattered throughout the province. They were local churches.
Question: "Why is church membership important?"
We believe there are at least three reasons for having formal church membership. First, membership in a local church is a biblical concept. While you won’t find the term “church member” in the New Testament, you will find that believers clearly identified themselves with a specific local church where they were called to become committed participants. Second, having a formal membership core helps the pastors and other leaders in their God-given task of shepherding. By design, Journey Ministries attracts some people who are uncommitted- seekers, observers and guests. May this always be the case!
However, it is also important for church leaders to be able to identify those who are the core participants that can be counted on to sustain and build the ministries of the church. Third, membership benefits you as an individual. Recognizable membership in the church can be an important step that moves believers from the haziness of good intentions to clear, committed participation. It presents a challenge to “stand and be counted” for Christ in relationship to this particular local church. As such, membership can be a significant “defining moment” in a person’s discipleship journey. (See what we did there?)
If you're intersted in Journey Ministries church membership, please fill out the connect card and place in the comments, you're interested in church membership.
This is a fair question and requires some clarification, because the New Testament actually points to two types of “membership.” First, scripture is full of references as to how every person who receives salvation through Jesus Christ becomes a “member” of the universal and eternal family of God. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 2:13-22; 4:3-6 This can be called “positional membership.” But then, the Bible also urges believers to continue growing by becoming “participating members” of a specific local church through active involvement in building up that church body.
Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31; 14:12; Hebrews 10:24-25
The Church: The church is not a building. It is the body of Christ, of which He is the head. Ephesians 1:22–23 says, “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” The body of Christ is made up of all believers in Jesus Christ from the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) until Christ’s return. Biblically, we may regard the church in two ways, as the universal church or as the local church.
The Universal Church: The universal church consists of everyone, everywhere, who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13). This verse says that anyone who believes is part of the body of Christ and has received the Spirit of Christ as evidence. All those who have received salvation through faith in Jesus Christ comprise the universal church.
The Local Church: The local church consists of a specific location with specific people, who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The local church is described in Galatians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle - not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead - and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:” Here we see that in the province of Galatia there were many churches, they had a localized ministry and were scattered throughout the province. They were local churches.
Question: "Why is church membership important?"
We believe there are at least three reasons for having formal church membership. First, membership in a local church is a biblical concept. While you won’t find the term “church member” in the New Testament, you will find that believers clearly identified themselves with a specific local church where they were called to become committed participants. Second, having a formal membership core helps the pastors and other leaders in their God-given task of shepherding. By design, Journey Ministries attracts some people who are uncommitted- seekers, observers and guests. May this always be the case!
However, it is also important for church leaders to be able to identify those who are the core participants that can be counted on to sustain and build the ministries of the church. Third, membership benefits you as an individual. Recognizable membership in the church can be an important step that moves believers from the haziness of good intentions to clear, committed participation. It presents a challenge to “stand and be counted” for Christ in relationship to this particular local church. As such, membership can be a significant “defining moment” in a person’s discipleship journey. (See what we did there?)
If you're intersted in Journey Ministries church membership, please fill out the connect card and place in the comments, you're interested in church membership.