Many people today view the church as unnecessary. They think it is an outdated institution that seeks to manipulate people, and sadly, some churches do. Because of this, joining a church is probably one of the most counter-cultural things we can do. Becoming a church member means stepping outside the comfort zone of isolation and allowing ourselves to be bound to others, much like how Jesus left the comfort of Heaven to bind Himself to us.

Membership calls for Christian men and women to engage in genuine, authentic, and heartfelt relationships with other Christians as a more effective means of growing in and displaying the glory of Christ. The sense of belonging encourages spiritual family and support. A church is a community where people can develop their faith and find spiritual inspiration.

Membership is a tricky subject because no explicit Scripture describes it. However, the Bible does show that membership is biblical and existed even in the early church. For example, church membership is implied in the metaphor of the church being the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:12). Our human bodies are compared with the members of the church. Everyone is unique, but each has a specific role; no individual is more or less important than another (1 Cor 12:24-26). The church is the Body of Christ. We are His hands and feet here on earth. God has given each of us unique characteristics, talents, and gifts that fulfill a purpose.

            Church membership is also implied in the New Testament’s requirement that elders care for the flock (Acts 20:28, 1 Pt 5:1-4). The New Testament also contains Jesus’s instructions on conflict resolution among members (Mt 18:15-17). For a deeper explanation of our perspective on church membership at Pure Springs, I invite you to watch the sermon I delivered on the topic at https://youtu.be/UjsGtA6-D9Q.