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NASB | Romans 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 12:5 so we, who are many, are [nevertheless just] one body in Christ, and individually [we are] parts one of another [mutually dependent on each other]. |
Bible Question: Is it ok in God's eyes and/or Biblically correct to be a member of two active church bodies. In other words, have membership at 2 churches if both churches are active Bible believing and Christ following congregations? |
Bible Answer: good morning noel2! may i begin to answer your question by asking one of you? by church membership, are you referring to a formal membership process, perhaps involving an application approval by elders and/or pastors, or are you referring to merely regular attendance at more than one church? i ask this because i have found that people often disagree on the definition of church membership. that being said, i will assume that you are referring to a formal membership process. you will not find reference to church "membership" anywhere in the Bible. you will also not find reference to the term "the trinity" yet it is nonetheless a clearly Biblical concept. church membership allows and enables the fulfillment of God’s high call upon His church to love and care for one another. (see Romans 12).in reading the New Testament about the church and its qualities- the characteristics of service, love, devotion, zeal, commitment, accountability, fellowship, submission to authority... are all used to describe the healthy, local church. it would be highly unlikely that an individual could maintain all of the above (and more) at more than one church. after all, there are only so many hours in a day! the bottom line is that church membership is consistent with Biblical teachings and is to be considered a privilege that produces a wholehearted commitment to the local body.it would therefore seem inappropriate to think that one could serve in a wholehearted capacity in two places at one time. i pray this response is helpful to you. |