Church Membership

A Christian must be a member of a church, under the oversight and jurisdiction of particular elders, exercising the communion of saints.

There have been times and places when this was not as much of an issue for Christians, because they would automatically belong to their parish church. But our present situation in America places more responsibility on the individual to take the initiative to join a church.

Those whom Christ saves, he makes members of his church, which he organizes with visible government and ordinances, and church members have no right to renounce its jurisdiction and fellowship.

A Christian has no right to withdraw from membership in Christ’s church and its jurisdiction, although they may transfer from one particular church to another.

A Christian is bound by his profession of faith in Christ to participate faithfully in the church's worship and service, to submit in the Lord to its government, and to heed its discipline.

Nor should a Christian want to withdraw from the church - Christ has instituted things like pastoral care, diaconal care, and the sacraments for the good of his people. One of the benefits of salvation is this fellowship in the household of God, in which you are both blessed and a blessing to others.

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The visible church is composed of those who profess the true religion and their children (1 Cor. 1:2, 7:14). While Baptists would disagree with the inclusion of their children, they would agree that Christians are the church. Those who are baptized are added to the number of the church (Acts 2:41, 47, 1 Cor. 12:13).

The church is society, a fellowship, in which each member is called to participate in its common worship, in mutual edification, and in sharing according to abilities and needs (Acts 2:42, Heb. 10:24-25, 1 Thess. 5:11, 2 Cor. 8-9). As the Westminster Confession of Faith puts it, "Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things, according to their several abilities and necessities" (26.2).

Christ has appointed that there be a government in his church of elders to govern and shepherd the church, “all the flock” (1 Thess. 5:12-13, Acts 20:28), instituting the practice of church discipline, to be used as needed (Matt. 16:19, 18:15-20). Part of how Christ exercises the office of a king is by giving his people "officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them," as our Larger Catechism explains (WLC 45). Christians are commanded in Scripture to be subject to this government in the Lord. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Heb. 13:17). 

Christ has given pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints (Eph. 4:11-12). As the Westminster Confession of Faith puts it, "Unto this catholic visible church Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world: and doth, by his own presence and Spirit, according to his promise, make them effectual thereunto" (25.3). 

This is not to discount the bad experiences some people have with churches. Their suspicion toward the church in general may be understandable. But such a Christian should not want to withdraw from the church altogether, but to seek the care and ministry that Christ has appointed for his people. The church has a responsibility to faithfully care for one another and build up the body, and shepherds in particular have a duty to faithfully carry out their ministry, lest what Ezekiel 34:1-10 describes takes place.

This church is universal (Matt. 16:18), regional (Acts 20:17), and local (1 Cor. 16:19). Christians can transfer from church to church, especially when they move or when attempts to rectify a serious problem fail. But as long as they are Christians, they cannot withdraw from Christ’s church, and ought to therefore have membership in some church under some elders.