Membership in the Local Church
There is a lot of confusion about local church membership, and this page intends to do two things:
1. Briefly address some of the confusion
2. Explain membership at Hartford Bible Church
Membership Of the Universal and Local Church:
The Bible teaches that all saved people are part of the universal church also known as the body of Christ, Bride of Christ, saints, and part of the Kingdom of God. There is wide spread agreement on this among denominations. Where things break down is over who is saved and who is living in such a way that warrants fellowship with the local church. Here we have two things that are important to church membership. To be a member of the local church you ought* be saved and as a result of our salvation we are new creations living differently. Unfortunately, not all churches see salvation the same, and so, many churches in their documents spell out what they see salvation as. Likewise, how a christian ought to behave is not universally settled creating more diversity of what it means to be a member of a local church. Not only that, but how churches deal with sin in the church has its own spectrum. So much more could be said about this, but I don't want to discourage you from finishing the rest of this article.
*Ought is meant to signal that there are some really good fakers who are part of the church for other reasons. Scripture teaches about such people quite extensively in 2 Peter and Jude among other places. They may fool others by being in the local church, but they will not fool God and are not part of the universal church, Matthew 13.
Membership at Hartford Bible Church:
At HBC we have many people who attend who are not members. From a day to day experience you would not notice too much difference. We care for one another and pray for them and their family. They serve in many different ways in our/their church. So what does membership do? Membership at HBC communicates to this local fellowship that one is in line with the doctrine and practices of this church. Such doctrine and practices (how the church operates) is outlined in the church's constitution. Membership is a point of agreement that a group of people have that allow them to follow their Savior in unity.
Members of Hartford Bible Church have this in common:
They confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by accepting what He did for them on the cross through faith alone. This is confirmed by testimony.
They have followed Christ command to be baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
They have received instruction of the doctrine and practices of this church as laid out by the church's constitution and agree to be govern by it.
They are received by the current membership by vote at an official business meeting.
The right hand of fellowship is extended to them. (ceremonial)
Membership in the local church is not a permanent status. Rather it is something that is maintained by being active in the church through participation and attendance. Presently, the bar for what it means to be active at HBC is very low, attending once a year. There are scores of good reasons why attendance of even once a year is not possible, and those are called the reasonable exceptions. The HBC church board can make those discretion's. It is the Active membership that makes decisions for the local church through leadership positions and voting at official business meetings. It is important for the membership to be active and in good standing.
Good standing simply means not under any discipline from the church. The Bible teaches extensively on how a christian ought to behave. We realize that we fail daily and wrestle with sin. However, it is when we choose not to wrestle our sin and embrace it that we lose our christian character. The church is instructed to come along side and encourage one another. It even tells us to confront one who is caught up in sin. If that brother refuses to acknowledge his sin and repent, Paul teaches in I Corinthians 5:11, "Not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person," Paul list several other specific dis-qualifiers before quoting from Deuteronomy in verse 13, "Remove the wicked man from among yourselves." Another point of confusion in churches is that some churches are so eager to be obedient in this point that they confront and condemn without seeking restoration with a brother caught up in sin. Galatians 6, Matthew 18, and James 5 teach us that sin that is repented of is forgiven. The church rejoices in the restoration. Christians sin and do stupid things. Christians are also to forgive as Christ forgave. Someone who is a member but not in good standing would be one under a probationary period, that is the church waiting for repentance. Eventually, if repentance is refused then membership will be revoked.
1. Briefly address some of the confusion
2. Explain membership at Hartford Bible Church
Membership Of the Universal and Local Church:
The Bible teaches that all saved people are part of the universal church also known as the body of Christ, Bride of Christ, saints, and part of the Kingdom of God. There is wide spread agreement on this among denominations. Where things break down is over who is saved and who is living in such a way that warrants fellowship with the local church. Here we have two things that are important to church membership. To be a member of the local church you ought* be saved and as a result of our salvation we are new creations living differently. Unfortunately, not all churches see salvation the same, and so, many churches in their documents spell out what they see salvation as. Likewise, how a christian ought to behave is not universally settled creating more diversity of what it means to be a member of a local church. Not only that, but how churches deal with sin in the church has its own spectrum. So much more could be said about this, but I don't want to discourage you from finishing the rest of this article.
*Ought is meant to signal that there are some really good fakers who are part of the church for other reasons. Scripture teaches about such people quite extensively in 2 Peter and Jude among other places. They may fool others by being in the local church, but they will not fool God and are not part of the universal church, Matthew 13.
Membership at Hartford Bible Church:
At HBC we have many people who attend who are not members. From a day to day experience you would not notice too much difference. We care for one another and pray for them and their family. They serve in many different ways in our/their church. So what does membership do? Membership at HBC communicates to this local fellowship that one is in line with the doctrine and practices of this church. Such doctrine and practices (how the church operates) is outlined in the church's constitution. Membership is a point of agreement that a group of people have that allow them to follow their Savior in unity.
Members of Hartford Bible Church have this in common:
They confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior by accepting what He did for them on the cross through faith alone. This is confirmed by testimony.
They have followed Christ command to be baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
They have received instruction of the doctrine and practices of this church as laid out by the church's constitution and agree to be govern by it.
They are received by the current membership by vote at an official business meeting.
The right hand of fellowship is extended to them. (ceremonial)
Membership in the local church is not a permanent status. Rather it is something that is maintained by being active in the church through participation and attendance. Presently, the bar for what it means to be active at HBC is very low, attending once a year. There are scores of good reasons why attendance of even once a year is not possible, and those are called the reasonable exceptions. The HBC church board can make those discretion's. It is the Active membership that makes decisions for the local church through leadership positions and voting at official business meetings. It is important for the membership to be active and in good standing.
Good standing simply means not under any discipline from the church. The Bible teaches extensively on how a christian ought to behave. We realize that we fail daily and wrestle with sin. However, it is when we choose not to wrestle our sin and embrace it that we lose our christian character. The church is instructed to come along side and encourage one another. It even tells us to confront one who is caught up in sin. If that brother refuses to acknowledge his sin and repent, Paul teaches in I Corinthians 5:11, "Not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person," Paul list several other specific dis-qualifiers before quoting from Deuteronomy in verse 13, "Remove the wicked man from among yourselves." Another point of confusion in churches is that some churches are so eager to be obedient in this point that they confront and condemn without seeking restoration with a brother caught up in sin. Galatians 6, Matthew 18, and James 5 teach us that sin that is repented of is forgiven. The church rejoices in the restoration. Christians sin and do stupid things. Christians are also to forgive as Christ forgave. Someone who is a member but not in good standing would be one under a probationary period, that is the church waiting for repentance. Eventually, if repentance is refused then membership will be revoked.