Is Church Membership Biblical?
In today’s world, the idea of formal church membership can feel outdated or optional. Maybe you have questioned it yourself. Many people regularly attend services, give financially, and participate in church activities without ever officially joining a congregation. But is that enough?
We must step back and ask a deeper question: Is church membership actually a biblical expectation for Christians? Is it required?
Dr. Guy Prentiss Waters answers this way: “Scripture does in fact require church membership of believers. If we look for a single verse that says ‘you must join the church,’ we will be disappointed. Rather, Scripture shows us the necessity of church membership in a different way. In showing us what the Christian life is, and what the church is, it leads us inescapably to the conclusion that Christians must join the church.” (How Jesus Runs the Church, page 17)
Church membership is not a consumer relationship (like with a gym or online service), but it is a covenantal commitment—an acknowledged relationship with both privileges (like participating in the Lord’s Supper and voting in the direction of the church) and obligations (like worship attendance, financial support, and mutual care). How do we know it is required by Scripture?
Dr. Guy Waters identifies five key biblical patterns that reveal it as essential to Christian discipleship. Here is a quick summary, with resources down below:
- The Pattern in Acts: From Pentecost onward, new believers are gathered into identifiable local communities under the leadership of elders. They worship together, serve one another, and send out missionaries. This reflects a functioning, recognized membership.
- The “One Another” Commands: Verses like Colossians 3:13 ("bear with one another… forgive each other") assume sustained life together among a defined group. These commands are most meaningfully lived out within the framework of local church membership.
- The Lord’s Supper: Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians 11 show that access to the Table is regulated—it is for believers who meet specific spiritual and communal qualifications. Church membership clarifies who may partake, protecting the sacrament’s integrity.
- Church Discipline: Jesus (Matthew 18) and Paul (1 Corinthians 5) both describe excommunication—removal from the church’s fellowship. But such removal only makes sense if there’s a formal process of belonging to begin with.
- Church Government: Passages like Hebrews 13:17 and 1 Thessalonians 5:12 presuppose a relationship between particular elders and particular Christians. The duty of elders to “watch over” souls implies a defined flock—again, established through membership.
Church membership is not a modern invention or mere formality—it is deeply woven into the New Testament’s vision for Christian life. It provides the structure for growth, accountability, discipline, and mission. Far from being optional, membership is both a command of Christ and a gift from the Good Shepherd, who binds His people together in love and mutual care.
MORE: Read the book How Jesus Runs the Church
📖 Read the full article here: Is Church Membership Biblical? – Guy Prentiss Waters at Tabletalk Magazine, Ligonier Ministries