Church membership is more important than you may think
Part 1 of
an interview with Jeremy Kimble,
Author of
40 Questions about Church
Membership and
Discipline
Does church membership mean more than simply joining a
social group? Does the church have a responsibility to discipline its members —
and if so, what does that look like? In 40
Questions about Church Membership and Church (Kregel Academic/May 27, 2017), Dr. Jeremy Kimble recognizes and addresses the many puzzling questions
about the critical role of the church in the life of believers.
Q: What is the most important
thing for readers to understand about church membership?
Church membership
is not solely about what you can get out of a church. Instead, membership
points us toward commitment and mutual accountability. When we join the membership
of a local church, we are agreeing to be overseen in our discipleship and
oversee others in their discipleship. As such, the idea of membership goes beyond
mere attendance and even ministry involvement. At its heart, church membership
is about a group of people committed to one another, who will continually
oversee and exhort one another toward ever-increasing godliness.
Q: What are some of the
biggest challenges the church as an institution faces today, both from the
inside and the outside?
Internally,
there could be any number of challenges, but I think one major issue the church
must face is the inherent individualism that exists in our churches. We do not
often have a culture of authenticity and openness in our local churches.
Instead, we look the part, fulfill our church duties and attend what we need
to, but we never get beyond the surface. A real need exists to get past all of
that, and as members, commit to loving, teaching, rebuking and encouraging one
another. This involves people who are open and transparent enough to share their
lives with others. In this way, we can show love and pursue holiness as a
community.
Externally,
we see increasing pressure to conform to the standards of the world, especially
in certain areas (e.g., sexuality, gender, materialism, etc.). It seems in the
West that if we continue to pursue faithfulness to God’s Word, the disparity
between the church and the world will become more evident. Churches will likely
have some difficult choices to make in the years ahead, as ostracization seems
inevitable. However, this challenge is also a great opportunity for the church
to display the love and holiness of God in very manifest ways.
Q: Why is it important to be a
member of a local church? Isn’t being a Christian enough?
Being a
Christian is certainly the key starting point, but joining a church in
membership is also crucial for a few reasons. First, church leaders are told to
keep watch over their flock (1 Peter 5:1-4) and that they will have to give an
account for the people they oversee (Hebrews 13:17). If this is the case,
pastors must know who they are overseeing, and church membership makes clear
whom they are to oversee. Second, we are told to exhort one another day after
day so we are not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:12-13). Of
course, I can do this for any Christian, but it makes the most sense to do this
for a particular group of people to whom I am committed. Finally, modern-day
church membership adheres to the overall pattern seen in Scripture. Israel,
though not the church, was a distinct nation with its own “membership” that was
distinct from other peoples. The New Testament church speaks typically of local
churches made up of certain people who are committed to one another, exercising
a certain kind of authority, fulfilling “one another” commands.
Q: What qualifications of
church membership are universal across denominational or doctrinal lines?
While
there will be differences of opinion regarding baptism and the timing of
granting someone membership status in a church, denominations would generally
agree full members of their church be people who are regenerate. If a church is
its membership (i.e. the church is not a building, but a people), then this is
especially important. There would also be widespread agreement that particular
responsibilities are inherent to church membership. Pastors do want to see
passive consumers in their churches. There is founded expectation members will
be involved in the work of the church and the lives of other members.
Q: What responsibilities does
each member have to one another and their local church?
There is
great responsibility inherent in church membership. We are
responsible to submit to elected leadership, all the while knowing God has
granted the keys of the kingdom to the entire membership (Matthew 16:19), thus
striking a balance in authority. We must be proactive as members in working for
others in their progress and joy in the faith (Philippians 1:25). The entire
body of believers must exercise their spiritual gifts for the good of others
(Romans 12:3-8) and regularly attend the gatherings of the church (Hebrews
10:24-25) so as to edify others and be edified themselves. One could name off
other responsibilities as well, noting members should be good listeners to
sermons, biblical theologians and devoted to pray for one another. Finally, one
must confront unrepentant sin in the lives of their fellow members, in the
hopes they heed that rebuke and repent.
Watch
for part 2 of this interview where Dr. Kimble will discuss church discipline.
Learn more about 40
Questions about Church Membership and Discipline and the other books in the
40 Questions series at www.kregel.com.
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