October 3rd, 2024
by Casey Donnelly
by Casey Donnelly
When you hear "church membership," what comes to mind? Is it just a formality—a quick class, a chat with a pastor, a commitment to live a Christian life? For many, it can feel optional, while for others, it seems essential. But I think most of us land somewhere in the middle.
We often overlook the deeper, biblical reality behind local church membership: it's fundamentally about citizenship in God's kingdom.
From the very start of his ministry, Jesus proclaimed this kingdom. In Mark 1:14–15, he announces, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
This kingdom isn't just a backdrop; it's the center stage of Jesus's message and the foundation of the early church's mission.
As you read through Acts, we find Paul in Rome, spending two years sharing about the kingdom of God (Acts 28:23). He understood that the gospel—the good news of Jesus as the rightful King—was an invitation to participate in a new way of life, one marked by forgiveness and the indwelling of the Spirit.
So, what does it mean to be a Christian? It means embracing our identity as citizens of this kingdom. Philippians 3:20 reminds us, "Our citizenship is in heaven." We are not just individuals; we are fellow citizens with saints and members of God's household (Ephesians 2:19). Local churches act as embassies of this kingdom, embodying God's values, authority, and mission in our communities.
Let me share a brief personal experience to illustrate. Back in the fall of 2009, I visited Guatemala City. One day, while exploring the city, I stood outside the U.S. consulate and realized it represented everything about my home country, even in a foreign land. Inside, people spoke English and upheld American laws—a small piece of the U.S. amid Guatemala.
In the same way, local churches are outposts of God's kingdom, spaces where we gather to worship, support one another, and submit to his authority. Joining a church is not a membership to Costco or about signing up for a social club; it's about being part of a new country established by God (1 Peter 2:9).
Jonathan Leeman puts it well: "Church membership... It's a declaration of citizenship in Christ's kingdom. It's a passport. It's an announcement made in the pressroom of Christ's kingdom. It's the declaration that a professing individual is an official, licensed, card-carrying, bona fide Jesus representative."1
The New Testament may not mention the term "church membership," but it assumes it. Paul opens his letter by addressing “all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, along with the overseers and deacons.” This is more than just a greeting; it’s a reminder that in every city, there’s an identifiable community of Jesus followers living out their faith together (Philippians 1:1). These letters are addressed to local churches, not individuals, highlighting the communal nature of faith.2
If you belong to Jesus, you are called to belong to a local church. This challenges the individualistic mindset often prevalent in American Christianity. Church membership is a commitment to God and one another based on Jesus's new covenant commitment to us. We need to move from seeing the gospel as just a personal salvation experience to understanding it as God's grand narrative to gather a people from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 7:9–10). Each week, these diverse followers of Jesus gather, embodying the local church and reflecting the beauty and power of God’s kingdom as they worship, serve, and grow together.
As you reflect on your church membership, think of it as citizenship in God's kingdom. This image helps us understand how our church participation aligns with biblical teaching and is vital to our faith.
Church membership is a profound calling that goes far beyond ourselves.
We often overlook the deeper, biblical reality behind local church membership: it's fundamentally about citizenship in God's kingdom.
From the very start of his ministry, Jesus proclaimed this kingdom. In Mark 1:14–15, he announces, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
This kingdom isn't just a backdrop; it's the center stage of Jesus's message and the foundation of the early church's mission.
As you read through Acts, we find Paul in Rome, spending two years sharing about the kingdom of God (Acts 28:23). He understood that the gospel—the good news of Jesus as the rightful King—was an invitation to participate in a new way of life, one marked by forgiveness and the indwelling of the Spirit.
So, what does it mean to be a Christian? It means embracing our identity as citizens of this kingdom. Philippians 3:20 reminds us, "Our citizenship is in heaven." We are not just individuals; we are fellow citizens with saints and members of God's household (Ephesians 2:19). Local churches act as embassies of this kingdom, embodying God's values, authority, and mission in our communities.
Let me share a brief personal experience to illustrate. Back in the fall of 2009, I visited Guatemala City. One day, while exploring the city, I stood outside the U.S. consulate and realized it represented everything about my home country, even in a foreign land. Inside, people spoke English and upheld American laws—a small piece of the U.S. amid Guatemala.
In the same way, local churches are outposts of God's kingdom, spaces where we gather to worship, support one another, and submit to his authority. Joining a church is not a membership to Costco or about signing up for a social club; it's about being part of a new country established by God (1 Peter 2:9).
Jonathan Leeman puts it well: "Church membership... It's a declaration of citizenship in Christ's kingdom. It's a passport. It's an announcement made in the pressroom of Christ's kingdom. It's the declaration that a professing individual is an official, licensed, card-carrying, bona fide Jesus representative."1
The New Testament may not mention the term "church membership," but it assumes it. Paul opens his letter by addressing “all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, along with the overseers and deacons.” This is more than just a greeting; it’s a reminder that in every city, there’s an identifiable community of Jesus followers living out their faith together (Philippians 1:1). These letters are addressed to local churches, not individuals, highlighting the communal nature of faith.2
If you belong to Jesus, you are called to belong to a local church. This challenges the individualistic mindset often prevalent in American Christianity. Church membership is a commitment to God and one another based on Jesus's new covenant commitment to us. We need to move from seeing the gospel as just a personal salvation experience to understanding it as God's grand narrative to gather a people from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 7:9–10). Each week, these diverse followers of Jesus gather, embodying the local church and reflecting the beauty and power of God’s kingdom as they worship, serve, and grow together.
As you reflect on your church membership, think of it as citizenship in God's kingdom. This image helps us understand how our church participation aligns with biblical teaching and is vital to our faith.
Church membership is a profound calling that goes far beyond ourselves.
1 Jonathan Leeman, Church Membership
2 The Pastoral Epistles—1 and 2 Timothy, Titus—along with Philemon and Luke, were addressed to individuals but meant for the entire church community.
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3 Comments
“Church membership is a profound calling that goes far beyond ourselves.” Amen! Great article.
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Loved how this emphasizes faith in community. Great article.
"If you belong to Jesus, you are called to belong to a local church." We can't do life alone!