Church member, church participant- what's the difference?

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

Romans 12:5 [KJV]

Norfolk Island. Image credit: Sharon

We often hear people say, “I’m a member of this football club… that volunteer group …that advisory board …or that special interest organisation.” If we’re curious (or just making conversation), we might ask, “What did you have to do to join?”

To become a member of a group, you need to meet specific eligibility requirements. These might include age limits, declaring your support for the organisation’s aims, paying membership fees, owning a particular model of car or working in a specific occupation.

Being a formal member, however, is different from being a group participant. And this is the same in the church. For a range of reasons, formal church membership rolls sometimes include people who no longer attend, or don’t include people who are active participants in church life. So, whether your name is on the formal member roll or not, this post is for you, because the Bible wants us all to be participants in a local, Bible-believing church.

That said, I do want to highlight the importance of formal church membership. If you are attending a biblical church with sound doctrine and practices—and you are eligible to join—I strongly encourage you to consider formal membership. My membership of Northside Baptist Adelaide indicates my agreement with church doctrines and practices, my desire to serve, and my willingness to be accountable to its church leadership. Membership rolls and their associated guidelines are important tools that help churches and church people function biblically: for example, they ensure only saved and baptised people are added (Acts 2:41), clarify church discipline processes (1 Corinthians 5:1–13), and outline responsibilities of members and leaders (Hebrews 13:17; 1 Timothy 3:2).

But back to today’s theme: what does the Bible say about being a church participant? Romans 12:5 says that “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” We’re going to look at four responsibilities we all have as participants in the local church.

Firstly, we each need to know what a local biblical church looks like. While anyone, including unsaved people, can attend a church service, the word church (Greek: “ekklesia”) refers to not a building, but a “called out assembly” (Strongs, 1890) of baptised followers of Christ (Acts 2:41). It is a body of individuals, with Christ as their head (Colossians 1:18, Romans 12:5), that stands on and declares scriptural truth (1 Timothy 3:15). A local church has pastoral leadership (1 Timothy 3:1-7), and servants or helpers called deacons if needed (Acts 6:1-4), people who fellowship with one another (Hebrews 10:24-25), submit to the leadership (Hebrews 13:17) and discipline processes (1 Corinthians 5:1–13). It adheres to the doctrine Christ entrusted to His apostles (Acts 2:42), separates from error (Romans 16:17–18) and has three key aims: to glorify Christ (Ephesians 3:21), reach the lost (Matthew 28:19-20) and edify believers (Ephesians 4:11-12). And, it has been entrusted with two ordinances, the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:23-34), and believers’ baptism (Matthew 28:19).

Every believer, man or woman, needs to know what a true church looks like, particularly as most church conflicts arise from either ignorance of or rebellion against the Biblical model. Church leaders do not always get things right, but sometimes we take offence to how things are done because it’s not the way we are used to, it causes conflict with people, or other churches do it differently. But if our local church is seeking to faithfully apply scriptural truth, we should stand with our leaders through both the good and tough times.

Secondly, we need to be learners in our local church. Showing up on Sunday is a good starting point, but God calls us to learn, not just attend. Jesus tells us to learn of Him (Matthew 11:29), and pastors are commanded to preach sound doctrine (Titus 2:1). We need to be taught the Word (Galatians 6:6) because “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). Applying what we learn benefits us and pleases God (Proverbs 1:5; 10:17).

Churches provide many opportunities to learn and grow, including preaching, Bible studies, other teaching times, seminars, prayer meetings, resources, and even informal sharing times with other Christians. Yet it’s possible to attend all these and not learn. Blockages include a critical spirit, and unconfessed sin (Isaiah 59:2), particularly the pride that whispers, “I don’t need this message, but so-and-so over there sure does!” Unchecked mental distractions are another key blockage: Do what you need to focus: eat breakfast beforehand, take notes during the sermon, suck lollies such as Fishermen’s Friends (ugh!), turn to the Scripture passages mentioned and actively pull back wandering thoughts. Sometimes you’ll hear something you have never heard applied that way previously, or that made you tense defensively, but don’t be “unlearned and unstable” people who wrest Scripture to suit their desires (2 Peter 3:16). Instead, listen, check it against Scripture (Acts 17:11), and ask God to help you implement necessary changes in your life.

Thirdly, we need to be praying participants. Scripture says to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and God rewards sincere, private prayer (Matthew 6:6). Yet the early church also prayed together publicly: Acts 2:42 describes how “they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” When the church prays together, God answers. Acts 12 illustrates this vividly. The Apostle Peter faced execution, yet “prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (v 5b). That night, “many were gathered together praying” (v12) and the Lord answered by miraculously delivering Peter. Church history also repeatedly shows that revival, whether personal or collective, is preceded by God’s people coming together, dealing with sin and praying for God to work. This sequence is outlined in James 5:16, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Our churches desperately need us to be pray-ers, particularly for sanctification (1 Thessalonians 5:23), preaching and outreach (2 Thessalonians 3:1; Ephesians 6:19). If we truly committed ourselves to individual and collective praying, what wonderful works of God might we see!

Fourthly, we need to be exhorters in the church. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Pharisaic people are hypocrites (Matthew 23:4), but exhorters’ lives match their message (2 Corinthians 1:12). A true exhorter can sincerely say what the Apostle Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). In the context of the church, here are some important things we need to model and encourage in other Christians: church attendance (Hebrews 10:24-25), accountability to leadership (Hebrews 13:17), showing honour to leadership (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13), commitment to fulfilling the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20), a sincere Christian walk (Galatians 5:16) and love for one another (John 13:34). The testimony of a godly man or woman of God brings such glory to the Lord, and such blessing to others in the church!

Are you an active participant in your local church? May the Lord help each of us to know how a biblical church operates, and then to be faithful learners, pray-ers and exhorters in our local church.