Some Responsibilities of Church Members

I have yet to find a passage of scripture that supports the “member at large” ideology. By that I mean, the Scripture teaches the value of individual Christians being recognized as part of a local, autonomous congregation of God’s people. While it’s true that all those who have obeyed Christ through penitent faith and baptism are members of the church of Christ, in a general sense, it is equally true that those same individuals should identify themselves with a local body of New Testament Christians.

This past week, I went through some old files that I had received from a “retired” preacher. I ran across a piece of paper that has turned yellow and brittle due to the heavy weight of age. Based on some of the other documents that I found in the same folder, I’m guessing this piece is at least fifty years old.

On this tattered, yellow piece of paper is an article that someone wrote about church membership. I would like to share it with you.

Every relationship in life involves some responsibility. Membership in the church of the Lord bestows upon us the highest and holiest privileges and blessings conceivable to men.

It also involves great responsibilities and serious obligations [1 Cor. 12:12]. A man takes pride in fulfilling his obligations. A Christian should be eager to fulfill all obligations that go with church membership.

Let us study some of them, at the same time examining ourselves to see if we are fulfilling them so as to be approved of the Lord.

Local membership:
The local congregation is the only unit of organization we can read of in the New Testament for carrying on the Lord’s work that is assigned to the church. For a Christian to be in full fellowship with the church, he must be associated with, and be a part of, and be amenable to a local congregation. The New Testament does not describe the status of “A member at large.” We find Paul always associating himself with a congregation of Christians (Acts 9:26-30; 13:1-3).

Subjection to the elders:
[The elders] are to exercise oversight [over the local congregation (1 Pt. 5:1-5). We (members) are to “obey them that have the rule over [us]” and “they are to watch for [our] souls” (Heb. 13:17; 1 Tm. 5:17-19).

Joint participation or fellowship in the work of the local church:
Each member is to be ready unto every good work (Tit. 3:1-2). “Every joint supplieth” the needs of the church (Eph. 4:16). “Every tree shall be known by its fruit” (Lk. 6:44). “Prove your own work” (Gal. 6:4-5).

Preserve the unity, peace and harmony of the body of Christ:
“I beseech you that there be no divisions among you” (1 Cor. 1:10). “Mark them which cause division” (Rm. 16:17-18). “Endeavoring (make some definite effort) to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).

The church has a mission—the salvation of souls:
We must be united with Christ that we might bring forth fruit unto God (Rm. 7:4). Branches that do not bring forth fruit will be cut off and cast into the fire (Jn. 15:2).

The “Christian at large” is defeating the very purpose of the local congregation—the preaching of the Gospel to the saving of souls. He is assuming no responsibility; and, sometimes he may be shirking it.

The apostle Paul said that the things written down in the past were done so that we might learn (Rm. 15:4). While I understand these words to be referring to the Old Testament Scripture, I do believe they teach a valuable principle. Great Christian soldiers of the past are still teaching us by what they have written. I for one am grateful that we can still learn from these men today.