Church Membership

Nowadays, as many churches are facing different types of problems and issues in regard with its membership. So it is one of the vital subjects in which all the churches need to have a clear understanding of the church membership and its importance.

Church is an ecclesiological term referring to what different Christian denominations conceive of as being the true body of Christians or the original institution established by Jesus. "Christian Church" has also been used in academia as a synonym for Christianity.

The word “membership” is defined as “the fact of being a member of a group.” A member is simply “one who belongs to a specific group.” Viewing membership in a church through this lens vastly underestimates the powerful, living, life-changing entity that the church actually is.

The question of church membership may be approached from various points of view: the theological, the juridical, and the sociological. The theological approach, which will be emphasized here, grows out of the biblical foundations of the Christian faith.

The Bible does not directly address the concept of formal church membership, but there are several passages that strongly imply its existence in the early church. “And the Lord added to them day by day those that were being saved” (Acts 2:47). This verse indicates that salvation was a prerequisite for being “added” to the church.

The universal Church - the Body of Christ (Romans 12: 5) is composed of all true believers in Christ, and local churches are to be microcosm of the universal Church. As believers, we have our names written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 20: 12), and that is what is most important. However, it is also important to commit to a local church where we can give of our resources, serve others, and be accountable.

It commits you, the Christian. It’s good to commit yourself to love and serve others. You will grow as a Christian as you commit to encourage, build up, strengthen, serve, rebuke, and pray for other Christians.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Those who are interested in becoming an Anabaptist Christian are known as Seekers. After a person has attended an Anabaptist church and wishes to join church membership.