Why is it important to be a member of a local church?

While it is true enough that the concept of the invisible or universal church has its place, that place is not where a believer can hold membership. The Word of God calls on us to not forsake the gathering together of the saints (Heb. 10:25). This precludes the common foolishness of those who say they can worship God alone, or at their favorite spot. We have to gather, together, with other saints. But, it could be argued, one could gather with the saints without joining a particular body.

That’s true. What one cannot do without being a member of a local church is this:

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you (Heb. 13:17).

For whom will those who watch out for souls give an account? The souls under their care. Who are the souls under their care? The members of the local body. We can love, labor beside, preach to, sing with any believer. But we will only give an answer for those under our care. If you can’t name the men whose care your soul is under, then you can’t be in submission to this text.

Joining a church is not like buying stock in a company. The defining quality of membership is not being eligible to vote on church matters. It is being under the authority of elders. What’s that you say? Elders are power hungry? Hypocrites? Incompetent? Bullies? Craven? Perhaps so. Perhaps you’ve even been hurt by the authorities over you in a previous church. None of which undoes the command in Hebrews.

The author of Hebrews doesn’t say, “But in this situation or that, forget about it. Don’t sweat it.” When we make excuses, which we all do, elders and laymen alike, for why we can’t obey the Word of God we’re making an argument we can’t win. All the “what if’s” in the world can’t topple a single jot or tittle of the Bible.

Joining a church doesn’t mean you can never leave. There is a great chasm between a sheep that moves from one flock to another and a sheep that wanders off on its own. The former never loses sight of the truth that it is being watched over. The latter never submits at all. Neither am I saying there are no hard choices to be made. Every church, every group of elders will have plenty of issues. Just like you do. As the saying goes, if you find a church without issues, don’t join it, because you’ll ruin it.

Trying to follow Jesus as a “Lone Ranger” isn’t merely asking for trouble. It isn’t merely unwise. It is sin, a failure to follow Jesus. Whoever wrote the book of Hebrews wrote it both under and with the full authority of Jesus. Hebrews, like the rest of the Bible, should all be in red letters. Let your elders watch over your soul, with joy. And let your joy match theirs.

This is part of an ongoing series of pieces here on the nature and calling of the church. Stay tuned for more.