Meaning of Church Membership
Bethel Baptist Church Pastor David Rising
Vestal, New York September, 2007
This is an overview of membership at Bethel Baptist Church. It is based upon the church constitution which we believe presents scriptural teachings.
When we talk about membership in some organization, we might think about things like an association (United States Tennis Association, $25), a club (Sam’s Club, $35) or a society (Humane Society, Evangelical Theological Society, $35) or even a credit card (American Express, VISA). Membership in those groups involves interest in the group, but usually means paying a one-time or annual membership fee and you are in the club. Membership at Bethel is not like that. New members are not required to pay an entrance fee. It means more than that, so while I probably did not have to explain that, nonetheless it is good sometimes to remember this.
b. Automatic because of family
While we are automatically born into our own physical families, we are not automatically born into membership at Bethel. It is not based on family origin or ties, though that certainly has an important part in the process. We do believe that children who grow in a Christian environment certainly have privileges and opportunities that others might not have, but we are not born into membership at Bethel. We are not born into God’s family simply by being born naturally also.
c. A status without commitment
Membership at Bethel is not like signing up for a free month of AOL, where you have no commitment or obligation for the first month or so. It is not signing up for the book of the month club whereby you can cancel at any time for any reason. It is much more than that.
d. A ticket to heaven
Membership at Bethel does not mean you are now ready to go to heaven should you die. Certainly believers who are not members of a local church will go to heaven, but some from different backgrounds may think that membership in a particular local church is a requirement to get to heaven.
So while we certainly encourage any and all believers to join a local church—and we view this as critical to spiritual health—we must be careful to explain the differences between membership into God’s family, by faith alone, and membership in a local church.
a. A formal commitment by the new member
Listen to the wording on how we define the local church in our statement of faith:
We believe that a local church is a congregation of immersed believers, associated by covenant of faith and fellowship of the Gospel; observing the ordinances of Christ; governed by His laws; and exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word; that its officers are pastors and deacons, whose qualifications, claims, and duties, are clearly defined in the Scriptures; we believe the true Mission of the church is the faithful witnessing of Christ to all men as we have opportunity. We hold that the local church has the absolute right of self government free from the interference of any hierarchy of individuals or organizations; and that the one and only superintendent is Christ through the Holy Spirit; that it is scriptural for true churches to cooperate with each other in contending for the faith and for the furtherance of the Gospel; that each local church is the sole judge of the measure and method of its cooperation; on all matters of membership, of policy, of government, of discipline, of benevolence, the will of the local church is final. Acts 2:41, 42; 1 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 1:22, 23; 4:11; Acts 20:17-28; 1 Tim. 3:17; Col. 1:18; Eph. 5:23, 24; Acts 15:13-18.
Though the New Testament does not have a specific verse that defines every aspect of what we call membership, it does have implications that instruct us. Like marriage is a formal and binding arrangement beyond merely a friendship or dating situation, so church membership takes our commitment to the Lord and to one another and makes it formal. We express this commitment in terms of a covenant. Covenants are seen in the bible in many places, and this principle helps us see how seriously God takes His promises to His people. They are binding arrangements which imply privileges and responsibilities.
b. It a commitment by current members to new member
In other words, it is not just the commitment on the part of the one becoming a member, but is a commitment of the current members toward the new member. We see this clearly in our church covenant:
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love;
To strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and comfort;
To promote its prosperity and spirituality;
To sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines;
To give it a sacred pre-eminence over all institutions of human origin;
To contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotions;
To religiously educate our children;
To seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances;
To walk circumspectly in the world;
To be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment;
To avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger;
To abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love;
To remember each other in prayer;
To aid each other in sickness and distress;
To cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech;
To be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage, that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.
It is appropriate from time to time, especially around the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, to repeat this covenant aloud as a church family. This will help us to remember the commitment we have toward God and toward one another.
Here are some scriptures that imply some kind of formal arrangement as a group or what we call membership:
- 1 Timothy 5:9 talks about a list, a list of widows supported by the church. This list seems to imply some kind of formal recognition.
- 1 Corinthians 5:2 talks about excluding an individual for unrepentant behavior. This action on the church seems to imply action toward those who were ‘included’ in the church. Some churches exercise church discipline on non-members, though one has to be careful.
- 2 Corinthians 2:6 speaks about punishment inflicted by the ‘majority’ of the church, drawing upon the idea of those who comprised a formal group, those who were of that particular church.
- Hebrews 10:25 speaks about not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. There, perhaps more than anywhere, it refers to the responsibility we have toward one another to meet together. That passage is set in a context of ministry to one another, and this goes along with the idea of our commitment to one another.
- 1 Corinthians 12 speaks about the church as a body which cares for itself.
- Acts 2:41-42 talks about ‘receiving … baptized … added … commitment’ The early church was devoted to God and one another.
3. What are the requirements for membership at Bethel Baptist Church?
According to our constitution, there are four requirements for becoming a member at Bethel:
a. You must be a professing believer.
“Anyone professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior,”
b. Your life must show evidence of the new birth
“giving evidence of change of heart,”
c. You must be baptized by immersion in water
“having been baptized by immersion,”
d. You must be in agreement with the principles, practices, & doctrine of this church.
“and declaring himself in accord with the principles, practices, and doctrines of this church”
If these four requirements are met, anyone “may become a candidate for church membership.”
4. How does someone become a candidate for membership?
By Baptism on confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, giving evidence of a change of heart and life.
b. By letter of recommendation
By letter of recommendation from any church of like faith and order upon acceptance of the statement of faith of this church. Letters issued by other than Bible-believing Baptist Churches shall not be considered valid evidence of salvation or baptism and may not he used as grounds for the candidate uniting with this church.
c. By testimony of Christian experience
By testimony of Christian experience, if the candidate has previously been baptized by immersion as a believer and accepts the statement of faith of this church.
By reinstatement, on confession and restoration of such as may have been suspended from fellowship by an act of discipline of the church.
5. How does a candidate become a member?
a. Meet with Deacons (& Pastor)
Article V, Section 2, Paragraph B.
Candidates for membership by any of the above ways shall be interviewed by the Board of Deacons which may make a recommendation to the church.
C. Candidates shall be received into the membership of this church by a vote of the members present and voting at any regular service of the church.
c. Extended right-hand of fellowship
D. Newly received members shall be extended the right hand of fellowship by the Pastor or his appointee at the earliest convenient occasion.
6. What then does a member do?
a. Participate in business of the church
A. Voting: Every active member eighteen years of age or older, who is not under disciplinary action of the church, shall have the privilege of voting on any item of business brought before the church.
B. It will be expected of members that they shall respect the Pastor and officers of the church and cooperate with them to the best of their ability in every project for the advancement of the work.
c. Support church faith & practice
They will be expected to abide by the Constitution and By-laws of the church and to agree without mental reservation with its doctrines as presented and defined in the Statement of Faith.
d. Be faithful to God & your church family
They will, likewise, be expected to live exemplary Christian lives, to abstain from all appearance of evil in speech and conduct, to live a life separate from worldly practices, to support the work of the Lord in this church by giving of their tithes and offerings, and to faithfully attend the services.
In many ways, this seems like a tall order, but these things are part of what it means to be a member at Bethel Baptist Church. May God grant us the faithfulness to be the kind of member we ought to be here at Bethel.