Bible Question: Where does the modern day notion of church membership come from? Where is the scriptural derivation of such a practice? We, who have accepted God's salvation through Christ Jesus are already a members of the body and joint heirs with Christ Jesus. So why is membership to a local "cell" stressed so? |
Bible Answer: 'Do I have to attend a local church to consider myself part of the body of Christ, or is it enough that I belong to the universal church simply because I am a Christian believer? 'While the local church isn't necessary for salvation, it plays an essential role as a source of applied doctrinal teaching and fellowship, a place of service and prayer, and as an authority for discipline. 'The fact that hypocrisy exists within the visible, institutional, local church doesn't justify a blanket condemnation of the church and its work. The earliest believers saw a need for united prayer, study, and fellowship (Acts 2:41-47). The writer of Hebrews actually warned people not to forsake the assembling of themselves together (Hebrews 10:25). The apostle Paul emphasized the interdependency of believers by describing how every believer is gifted spiritually in ways that build up other believers (Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11). 'People who willingly ignore or disregard church fellowship imply that they have no need of the spiritual gifts God has bestowed on others for the common good (Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). Just as we are born into a family for our care and nurture as infants, so believers are born into the family of God and need more mature Christians to nurture them in their years of immaturity (1 Corinthians 3:1-15). 'Participation in a local church, with a realistic eye toward the shortcomings of all institutions and other believers, is the best way that we can grow spiritually and help build God's kingdom. ' Written by: Dan Vander Lugt The Church We Need http://www.discoveryseries.org/q0904/ How to Recognize a Good Church http://www.discoveryseries.org/rd951/ ____________________ http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/questions/answer/christian/involvement/bodyofchrist.xml/ |