Is Local Church Membership and Work Essential?

According to GALLUP those without are growing and those with are shrinking. Realized that these numbers are mostly based on “protestant” and “Catholic” “religion”. But the fact is that membership in the Lord’s church is getting smaller, fewer and fewer faithful congregations exist. Every member of the Lord’s church knows membership and salvation cannot be separated. When this truth is missing in the heart of a member it will unquestionably manifest itself in sparce and deflated attendance.

Before we proceed, I must also make it clear there is no connection between the protestant decline and the decline in the Churches of Christ. 1) The downturn of membership in the “protestant” churches is a result of people being disgusted with the materialistic emphasis and  2) the lack of sound Bible doctrine. Think about it, most protestant leaders teach all that is necessary to be saved is to “accept Jesus as

Let me be clear—the afore two mentioned things have nothing to do, in any stretch of the imagination—with the Churches of Christ. The Lord’s church teaches the same message that is found in every translation of the Bible concerning how one becomes a Christian and that one cannot be saved without being a member of the church. Jesus Himself taught six things: Hear and learn the gospel (John 6:45). Believe Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24). Repent (Luke 13:3). Confess Jesus before men (Matt. 10:32). Be baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38). Remain faithful till death (Rev. 2:10b). Make no mistake, the Lord adds converts to the church, the body of Christ (Acts 2:47; Col. 1:18, 24) and it is clearly taught to every member that failure to work with the church, willful failure to attend the assemblies is sin and will eventually result in apostasy. Failure in these things is in part why membership and the work are diminishing.
your personal Savior”, and you’re saved and can never fall from grace! This teaching alone is hurting denominations because if a person can be saved without ever even affiliating with a church, why go to church at all?

Making the church secondary in your heart is to make the church less than what God intended it to be. Membership and work must be principal in the hearts of members if for no other reason than the knowledge that your soul was principal in God’s mind for He sent Jesus into the world to die for your sins and to build the church (Matt. 16:18), His blood-bought body (Acts 20:28), by which we are reconciled to God (Eph. 2:16). You who are saved by the blood are the church (Acts 2:47) of which Jesus is “the savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23). The “called-out” people of God (1 Pet. 2:9). We must not treat the church as some sort of unimportant spiritual accessory. Failure to understand these things is also partial reasons why the membership and the work are diminishing.

Not understanding, or not appreciating the work of the church will cause declining membership and participation. From clear statements in the word of God, we can see the work of the Lord’s church that members should be involved in doing. 1). To edify (1 Cor. 14:26), to provoke one another unto love and to good works and to not forsake the assembling (Heb. 10:24-25). To encourage members to live as is proper in the sight of God (1 Tim. 6:12-14). As members of the body of Christ we have responsibilities before God. 2). The church is the “pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15) which is the word of God (Rom. 10:17) and members are to spread that word of God as we go out into the world each day (Matt. 28:19-20). 3). The church must care for the needy saints among them (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37; 6:1-7; 11:27-30; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 8-9). God planned the church to function like a body with every individual doing its part (1 Cor. 12:13-27; Eph. 4:16). If God’s work is not optional, then one’s association with the church is not optional. As members of the body when we don’t work collectively to do the work of God, it will not get done! This too will result in members leaving being disheartened.

Not offering worship to God in spirit and truth is sin that will weaken any church. We assemble to sing praises to God (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; 1 Cor. 14:15), we remember the Lord’s death through participation in taking the Lord’s Supper (notice that the Lord’s supper is to be observed “when you come together in one place” (1 Cor. 11:20). We offer prayers (1 Cor. 14:15). We hear the word of God preached (Acts 20:7; Acts 2:42) and we give of our means (1 Cor. 16:1-2). The contribution and the Lord’s supper is meant to be done in a collective capacity (1 Cor. 10:17). No authority exists for the individual to have his own private communion and contribution choosing not to participate in the public worship of the church.

The practice of disciplining members who refuse to walk according to the doctrine of Christ is also to be done as a congregation (1 Cor. 5; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15). Notice carefully when this work is to be done, “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together…” (1 Cor. 5:4). Every member who decides to ignore God’s plan for his salvation acts in rebellion to God’s revelation (Jer. 10:23). God has revealed what man needs for his own good; the child of God will abide within God’s revelation.

What has been your experience? Are the most spiritual people you know church goers or are they those who miss services regularly. I would define faithful members as saints who regularly assemble, sacrifice to support the preaching of the gospel, help the needy, do whatever other good works they can do and are the ones who study God’s word daily to understand and practice His will in all things. They are the template to follow.

In my personal experience those who forsake the assembly of the saints, without a cause, are usually the weak members of the body of Christ who need encouragement. My friends, you cannot be saved without being in the Lord’s church and you cannot stay saved without associating with the local congregation and serving as you have the opportunity. This is what God’s word reveals! Church membership is essential to salvation.

In Love

Dave Scarpino

Our faithful Creator is worthy to be praised in this assembly. All praise to Him who reigns above in majesty supreme! He gave His Son to die, for all mankind, that He might redeem all. Our blessed Redeemer suffered and died for our sins and is now risen and sitting at the right hand of God as Head of the church. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, knowing that He is the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:8-9) “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)