O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

DOES CHURCH MEMBERSHIP MATTER? 

Church membership represents one of the most foundational yet frequently misunderstood aspects of Christian ecclesiology. In an age marked by individualism and consumeristic approaches to spirituality, many believers question whether formal church membership truly matters or holds any biblical significance. 

The biblical texts and theological principles suggest that while the Bible may not contain a direct command stating “thou shalt become a church member,” the concept of formal commitment to a local body of believers permeates Scripture and functions as a necessary component of faithful Christian living.

Biblical Foundations for Church Membership

Although the term “church membership” does not appear verbatim in Scripture, the  concept is firmly implied through various biblical passages and practices. The early church demonstrated clear awareness of who belonged to their fellowship. In Acts 2:41, we read that “about three thousand souls” were added to the church on the day of Pentecost, indicating that someone was keeping a numerical record of believers.^{1, 2} This accounting continued throughout the book of Acts, with references to specific numbers of believers (Acts 1:15 mentions 120 persons, Acts 4:4 references five thousand).¹ Such record-keeping definitely suggests formal recognition of who belonged to the church community. 

The apostle Paul further establishes this principle in 1 Corinthians 5:12 when he draws a clear distinction between those “inside” the church and those “outside” the church.³ He writes, “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?” This text serves as a powerful prooftext for church membership as it explicitly acknowledges a boundary between church insiders and outsiders. This boundary is not merely conceptual but practical, determining who falls under the care and accountability of the church. The distinction between insiders and outsiders would be meaningless without some formal recognition of who belongs to the church community.³ 

Another significant indication appears in Acts 6:2-5, where the apostles instructed believers to “look ye out among you seven men of honest report” to serve the congregation.¹ The phrase “out among you” clearly distinguishes church members from non-members, establishing that the deacons were to be selected from within the recognised body of believers.¹ Similarly, in 1 Timothy 5:9-13, Paul provides detailed instructions regarding the “taken into the number (enrollment)” of widows in the church’s care ministry, indicating formal processes for recognising different categories of    members within the church community.⁴ These examples demonstrate that the early church maintained clear awareness of who belonged to their fellowship and who did not.

Theological Foundations for Church Membership

Church membership finds its deepest theological grounding in the imagery Scripture uses to describe the church. Paul’s metaphor of the church as “the body of Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:27) provides perhaps the most compelling theological basis for church membership. This imagery emphasises that Christians are not isolated individuals but interconnected parts of a living divinely-constituted organism. In 1 Corinthians 12:21, Paul writes, “And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.”^{3, 4} This metaphor portrays believers as members literally incorporated into Christ’s body, with specific functions and responsibilities toward one another. 

The body metaphor also illustrates that membership is not merely a modern institutional convenience but an ontological reality established at conversion. When an individual is saved, they become a member of the universal body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).⁵ Local church membership, then, serves as the earthly expression of this spiritual reality, providing the context in which believers live out their incorporation into Christ. Just as the human body functions properly only when each part fulfils its role in connection with the others, so Christians fulfil their purpose only in relationship with fellow believers in a local church context.⁴ 

Another crucial theological foundation emerges from the biblical concept of covenant community. Throughout Scripture, God relates to his people not merely as individuals but as a covenant community with defined boundaries. In the Old Testament, this manifested as the nation of Israel; in the New Testament, it manifests as the church. Membership in this community is tied to adherence to the covenant, with clear implications for those who belong and those who do not. The New Testament continues this model by describing Christians as “fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19), implying formal recognition of belonging to God’s family.

The Practical Necessity of Church Membership

Church membership establishes crucial frameworks for pastoral care and authority. Hebrews 13:17 instructs believers to “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account.”⁶ This passage raises an important question: for whom will church leaders give account? The answer must be the members of their congregation, not all Christians everywhere or all people in their community.⁶ Church membership thus defines the scope of pastoral responsibility and establishes the framework for spiritual authority and oversight.

Membership also facilitates the crucial practice of church discipline as outlined in Scripture. Jesus himself established a process for addressing sin within the church community in Matthew 18:15-20, culminating in bringing unresolved matters “tell it unto the church”⁷ Paul applied these principles in 1 Corinthians 5, instructing the church to     remove an unrepentant member from their fellowship.^{7, 8} Such discipline would be impossible without clear understanding of who belongs to the church in the first place. As one source notes, “If there’s no church membership, then who would possibly be able to put you under church discipline?” The biblical directives regarding excommunication necessarily imply formal church membership. 

Furthermore, church membership provides the structure necessary for spiritual growth and mutual edification. The numerous “one another” commands in the New Testament—love one another, serve one another, bear one another’s burdens—presuppose committed relationships within a defined community. Through membership, Christians commit to regular assembly for worship, instruction, fellowship, and accountability. Hebrews 10:24-25 emphasises the importance of “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,” but rather “exhorting one another.”⁹ This regular gathering becomes most meaningful when believers have formally committed themselves to one another in church membership.

Objections and Misunderstandings About Church Membership

Despite the biblical evidence, some believers resist formal church membership. Common objections include claims that Christianity is primarily a personal relationship with God that does not require institutional commitment, that formal membership processes are man-made traditions rather than biblical mandates, or that one can fulfil Christian obligations through regular attendance without membership.⁵ Others view membership suspiciously, associating it with burdensome responsibilities, and rigid rules within the church.⁹ 

These objections, however, often misunderstand the nature and purpose of biblical church membership. Membership is not primarily about institutional mechanics but about covenant commitment to Christ and His people. While the specific procedures for becoming a member may vary among churches (membership classes, public testimonies, etc.), these are prudential matters that implement the biblical principle rather than contradicting it. The core concept of recognised belonging to a local expression of Christ’s body remains biblically essential regardless of how it is administratively managed. 

Some argue that membership is unnecessary since believers already belong to the universal church through salvation. However, this position fails to recognise that the New Testament consistently portrays the universal church as expressing itself through local congregations with defined membership.⁵ As one source aptly states, “Local church membership is not the eleventh commandment...but kind of like the doctrine of the Trinity, it is a good and necessary consequence of what’s in the Bible.”¹⁰ Membership is the practical means by which believers live out their spiritual incorporation into Christ’s body.

The Purpose and Benefits of Church Membership

Church membership serves numerous vital purposes within God’s design for his people. First, it creates a visible distinction between the church and the world, clarifying the redemptive boundary that God establishes through salvation. Just as God made a distinction between Egypt and Israel during the Exodus (Exodus 11:7), church membership helps make visible the distinction between those who belong to Christ and those who do not.¹⁰ In an increasingly secularised culture, this visible witness becomes especially important. 

Second, membership facilitates spiritual growth by providing the context for receiving biblical instruction, participating in the ordinances, using spiritual gifts, and engaging in mutual edification.⁵ When Christians formally commit to a local church, they position themselves to receive the full range of spiritual benefits God intended for their growth. They also commit themselves to contribute to others’ growth through serving, giving, and participating in the life of the congregation. This two-way commitment creates the environment in which believers mature in Christ. 

Third, membership provides essential spiritual protection. By submitting to godly leadership and accountability structures, believers receive protection against false teaching, spiritual deception, and moral failure.² Church discipline, far from being punitive, serves a redemptive purpose—restoring the wayward, protecting the vulnerable, and honouring Christ’s name.⁸ Without formal membership, these protective and restorative functions become impossible to implement as Scripture directs. 

Finally, membership fosters a counter-cultural witness to an individualistic world. As one source notes, “Becoming a church member means leaving behind the comfort of individualism and voluntarily allowing yourself to be bound to others. It is a beautiful picture of the Gospel. And we do this because Jesus joyfully left behind his comfort and bound himself to us.”⁴ In a culture that prizes autonomy and resists commitment, church membership offers a powerful testimony to the transforming power of the gospel.

Conclusion

The biblical evidence strongly supports the importance and necessity of formal church membership. While not explicitly commanded in a single prooftext, church membership functions as a necessary implication of numerous biblical principles and patterns. The early church clearly recognised who belonged to their fellowship, maintained processes for admitting and removing members, and structured leadership and discipline around formal membership. The theological metaphors of body and covenant community further reinforce the importance of recognised belonging to a local expression of Christ’s church. 

In contemporary culture, where commitment is increasingly devalued and institutional skepticism abounds, church membership stands as a powerful counter-testimony.  It witnesses to the transforming power of the gospel to create not just individual believers but a covenant community marked by mutual love, accountability, worship and service. As one source concludes, “Local church membership is a question of biblical obedience, not personal preference.”² For believers seeking to faithfully follow Christ according to Scripture, commitment to a local church through formal membership represents not an optional add-on but an essential expression of Christian discipleship.

— Mok Chee Cheong

References 

1. Igweta, Murungi. “Is Church Membership Biblical?” TableTalk, vol. 8, January 2025. https://tabletalkmagazine.com/posts/is-church-membership-biblical-igweta/
2. Chandler, Matt. “Is Church Membership Biblical?” IX 9Marks, April 28, 2011. https://www.9marks.org/article/journalchurch-membership-biblical/
3. Emadi, Sam. “Two Proof-texts for Church Membership.” IX 9Marks, May 7, 2019. https://www.9marks.org/article/two-prooftexts-for-church-membership/ 
4. Webbon, Joel. “Biblical Support for Church Membership.” Acts29. August 13, 2018. https://www.acts29.com/biblical-support-for-church-membership/
5. “Church Membership.” Grace Community Church Distinctive. https://www.gracechurch.org/about/distinctives/church-membership
6. “Membership—Why is Church Membership Important?” Got Questions. https://www.gotquestions.org/church-membership.html
7. “What does the Bible say about church discipline?” Got Questions. https://www.gotquestions.org/church-discipline.html
8. Leeman, Jonathan. “Church Discipline.” TGC U.S. Edition. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/church-discipline/
9. Charles Seet. “The Responsibilities of Church Membership.” Life Bible-Presbyterian Church, March 19, 2006. https://www.lifebpc.com/index.php/resources/treasury-of-sermons/72-1-2-timothy-titus-philemon/585-1-timothy-3-15-the-responsibilities-of-church-membership
10. Alexander, Paul. “10 Things You Should Know about Church Membership.” CROSSWAY, November 8, 2019. https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-about-church-membership/

Shorter Catechism Question 39

39. What is the duty which God requireth of man?

The duty which God requireth of man is obedience to his revealed will.

Appointments for the Week

Monday, Mar 17

        7.30 pm     ERBL: Counselling in the Local Church (Mr Joel Seah)

Tuesday, Mar 18

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Joel Seah)

Thursday, Mar 20

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

        7.30 pm     No ERBL Lecture

Saturday, Mar 22

        2.15 pm     Ladies’ Tea Fellowship (Rm 1-6)

        3.00 pm     LTF / YLM

Sunday, Mar 23

  8.00 am     The Better High Priest Hebrews 5:1-10 (Rev Charles Seet)

  8.00 am Choir Practice

  9.15 am Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  9.40 am Sunday School / Catechism Class

10.15 am Coffee Corner

11.00 am The Better High Priest Hebrews 5:1-10 (Rev Charles Seet)

11.00 am Children’s Ministry

11.00 am Chinese Service (MPH)

11.00 am Filipina Service (Rm 1-6)

12.15 pm Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  2.00 pm Session Meeting

  2.30 pm Thai Service (LMH)

  4.00 pm Indonesian Service (Rm 1-6)

Announcements

Vacation Bible School (VBS) is back!

Theme: A Whale of a Time
Date: 4-6 June 2025 (Wed-Fri)
Lifers needed for the available areas of service: Teaching, Craft, F&B, Games, Logistics and Traffic/Security.

To register, visit https://lifebpc.com/vbs/  

Note: Children's registration (4-12 years old [N2-P6]) will commence at the end of March.

Door to Door Evangelism

16 March 2025

Meet in Beulah Room 2-11, 12.30pm Contact: Desmond or Amos 

Traffic Warden Service

We welcome all church members to join in this work. Our TW’s role is to provide godly service to facilitate worship. We need help in following time slots for Sunday: 7.30-8am or 10.30-11am with a frequency of once or twice a month. Please contact Dn Chan Yong or Bro Kelvin.

Library Ministry

Members are invited to serve in the Library Ministry. If you are available on Sunday, please contact Sis. Mimi  or Bro. Paul  for more details.

Mailbox Club Bible Correspondence Course (MBCC)

Another Church Outreach Ministry invites Lifers to register their young children, teens, or grandchildren with our MBCC. Those whose loved ones, friends or colleagues who are either young in their faith or being non-believers, are interested to know and explore more of Christianity, are also invited to register with us by filling in the registration forms which are now available at the Church front counter and post them to:

Life B-P Church

No.10, Gilstead Road

Singapore 309064

Attention: Mrs Ong Chuay Ying

Combined YAF – MM – LF

Date: 29 March 2025

Time: 4-6pm

Venue: Beulah MPH

“God-ordained Roles of Man & Woman” by Bro Mok Chee Cheong

Join us for a time of fellowship in God’s life-giving Word as we learn how we may honor Him in our roles as men and women and live them out in daily life. ALL are welcome! 

Register at: https://tinyurl.com/menwomenroles 

Gospel Sunday

English service:
Topic: Is there more to life that I'm missing? (Luke 15:11-32)
Date: Sunday, 30 March 2025
Time: 8:00 am & 11:00 am
Speaker: Dn Lim Chien Chong
Venue: Life B-P Church Sanctuary, 9A Gilstead Road, Singapore 309063

Young Adult Talk Series 2025

Join us for the second session in the Young Adults Talk series on Money!

Topic: How Rich Do I Need To Be?

Date: 30 March 2025 

Time: 9:40 AM

Venue: Beulah Room 2-1

We strongly encourage all young adults to come and hear God’s Word together and learn what it means to view money and wealth through a biblical lens. See you there! 

Senior Fellowship Medical Seminar: Coping with Critical Illnesses

Date: 26 April 2025

Time: 4-6pm

Venue: Beulah MPH

Speaker: Dr Loh Keh Chuan

We all have to face ageing, sickness and death as we pass through life’s journey on earth. The majority of us will encounter critical illness at some point in our lives. We do not ponder on the prospect of imminent death until critical illness strikes.

This Seminar will:

1. provide an overview and conceptual understanding on the biology of ageing, sickness and death that God programmed in our DNA since the fall of man.
2. focus on cancer as example of critical illness. This is pertinent because one in three people will develop cancer in their lifetime.
3. explore both the biblical perspective on coping with terminal illness and the medical perspective on diagnosis and treatment of cancers. 

Register by 13 April https://www.lifebpc.com/sfseminar 

Church Camp 2025

Save the date! Please mark your calendars for our upcoming church camp!

Theme: Are We Prepared to Meet Christ?

Dates: 17-20 June 2025

Venue: Radisson Hotel, Batam, Indonesia

Speaker: Rev Ian Goligher, Retired Pastor of Free Presbyterian Church in Cloverdale, BC Canada.

Join us for a blessed time of spiritual growth and fellowship as we explore the messages from the letters of Christ to the seven churches in Revelation.

Camp registration will start from today, 19 January 2025. You may go to the church's website at https://www.lifebpc.com/church-camp-2025 to register online. Availability will be on a first come first serve basis. Please do register early to avoid disappointment. If you require any assistance with registration, please contact Josiah Seah at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For any questions about camp, please contact Dn Chen Wei'an.

• Prev
• Next