Church Membership & Discipline

Church membership is not explicitly found in Scripture.

Church membership is the mechanism the church uses to enable practices which are found in Scripture.

The Visible and Invisible Church

Invisible: “The church as God sees it.” (Grudem)

Visible: “The church as Christians on earth see it.” (Grudem)

The visible church should not but will include unbelievers.

The visible church has both global and local elements.

I am a part of the same global visible church as a believer in Ethiopia.

I am not part of the same local visible church as a believer in Ethiopia.

Church membership is how we identify the individuals in a local, visible church.

Basis for Membership

The church holds authority over its own membership. (Mt. 16:18-20; Mt. 18:18-20; Mt 28:18-20)

Matthew 16:18–20 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Matthew 18:18–20

18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 28:18–20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

There is an expectation of authority and submission in the local church which requires an ability to identify the members

Elders have a responsibility to direct the affairs of the church. (1 Tim. 5:17)

1 Timothy 5:17 NIV

17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

Congregations are to submit to those who speak the Word of God to them (elders). (Heb. 13:7)

Hebrews 13:7 NIV

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Elders are given the responsibility to watch over the souls of their people, while church members are given the responsibility to obey elders.

Hebrews 13:17 NIV

17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Membership shows who the congregation should submit to and who the elders give an account for.

The church has the responsibility to exclude unrepentant members (Mt. 18, 1 Cor 5, Titus 3)

Congregational government requires membership

There is no New Testament category for an unchurched Christian

Membership creates accountability

For care

For holiness

What Does Membership Look Like?

Becoming a Member

Genuine Conversion

Baptism?

As proclamation of faith

As act of obedience

Membership Class

Interview

Announcement of Candidacy

Welcome

Life As a Member

Attendance

“One another” ministry

Service

Church Government

Ending Membership

Resigning/transferring membership

Changing churches should be rare and for good cause

Church membership isn’t a Sam’s club membership

If there is conflict, seek reconciliation first

If there is sin, seek repentance first

If it’s a matter of preference, consider sacrificing for the good of the body

The consumer mentality is unhealthy

Churches should take a gracious approach to those who decide to leave

It’s okay to leave a church; it’s not okay to leave the church.

Church Discipline

Dealing with Sin

Dealing with sin in the church should be part of regular ministry long before excommunication

Church discipline is a persistent call to repent, not a means of punishing sin (1 Cor 5:4-5)

1 Corinthians 5:4–5 NIV

4 So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

The Mt 18 passage is between the parable of the wandering sheep and the unforgiving servant

The Process of Discipline

Individually

Mt 18:15 “15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.”

In a group

Mt 18:16 “16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’”

As the church

Mt 18:17 “17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

The entire congregation plays a part

Excommunication

The final stage of discipline declares that the sinner is living as if they are not a Christian and will be treated as such

Mt 18:17 “17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

How do we treat someone who is under discipline?

As an unbeliever (Mt. 18:17)

Offer them no Christian fellowship (1 Cor 5:11)

1 Cor 5:11 “11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.”

If they are a divisive person, avoid them (Titus 3:9-11)

Tit 3:9-11 “9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. 11 You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.”

Prepared for restoration

2 Cor 2:5-8 “5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.”

The goodness of church discipline

There is a serious danger that those who claim Christ will let go of him. Discipline calls the sinner to hold on to Jesus

Heb 6:4-6 “4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.”

Sin in the church brings the gospel into disrepute, discipline allows the church to protect its purity and testimony

Church discipline allows the church to publicly and clearly support victims

Warnings about church discipline

The aim of restoration must always be remembered

Discipline should be exercised carefully and deliberately

Issues which result in discipline

Outward sin (we can’t judge the heart)

Clear sin

Unrepentant sin

Discipline must balance transparency and privacy

Discipline should never be abused for the purpose of power.