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Is It A Scriptural Practice To Place Membership With A Local Congregation?

The answer to this question is YES. Granted, you will not find the phrase “placing membership” in the scriptures, but there are examples of those who identified with a local body after obeying the gospel. When an individual obeys the gospel of Jesus Christ, the scriptures clearly state, “… And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). The word “church” is used in two senses in scripture. There is the church universal. Jesus said, “… I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). Was Jesus referring to a local church building when he made this statement? He was making reference to the church universal. Anyone who is baptized is added to the universal body. The word “church” is also used to denote a local congregation. A local congregation consists of people who have been baptized and added to the church universal by the Lord, and who have decided to work together in a specific area to carry out the mission of the Lord. There are numerous passages of scripture which mention local congregations (Acts 9:26; Acts 11:26; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:2; Philippians 1:1). These local congregations consisted of elders, deacons, evangelists, teachers, and members. Each congregation in their locality carried out the mission of the Lord.

When an individual was added to the Lord's church by the Lord, was the individual encouraged to be a renegade and worship and work alone or float from congregation to congregation? The individual was expected to assemble with the saints in a locality. After Saul obeyed the gospel, he was added to the church universal by the Lord. The bible states, “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple” (Acts 9:26). Saul tried to identify with the church at Jerusalem. No one wanted Saul there because they knew of his reputation. Barnabas took Saul to the apostles, explained his conversion and told them how Saul defended the gospel. The word “joined” in this text means to attach oneself closely to. He attached himself to the local church in Jerusalem. Later in Acts, a local congregation is established in the city of Antioch. The church at Jerusalem hears the great news and sends Barnabas to the local church in Antioch. Barnabas then went to Tarsus to seek Saul. Barnabas and Saul then assembled themselves with the church in Antioch for a whole year and taught much people. Acts 13 begins by stating, “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch and Saul.” After the first missionary journey, Saul and Barnabas returned to the Antioch congregation. “And thence sailed to Antioch from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled” (Acts 14:26). Why would Barnabas and Saul return to the local church at Antioch? They were working with the local congregation at Antioch.

Why place membership or identify with a local congregation? The first reason is because it is a scriptural practice. All of the local congregations in the bible consisted of baptized believers. The second reason is because it is logical to identify with a local congregation. The elders of a local congregation are to take heed to all the flock (Acts 20:28). Peter stated, “Feed the flock of God which is among you”… (1 Peter 5:2). Would not this indicate there were local sheep at local congregations under the oversight of those particular elders? If sheep are not a part of a local fold, how can the shepherds feed and watch for their souls? The third reason to identify with a local congregation is to ensure help in carrying out the mission of the Lord. Paul said concerning the local church at Thessalonica, “For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything” (1 Thessalonians 1:8). The local church at Thessalonica was commended for performing the work of the Lord.

Why, then, do many not identify with a local congregation? One of the main reasons is because people do not want to be accountable to an eldership or to a local congregation. The WORK of the church is WORKING, and if an individual is not under the oversight of an eldership, no one can hold them responsible for not working. This is one of the main reasons why people float from congregation to congregation. Saul and Barnabas joined themselves to the church at Antioch to WORK. Second, many just want to worship at a congregation and not get involved. When one is not accountable to a leadership, one can worship at different places every week and never have any intentions of working. Third, some just choose to be rebellious against the Lord's word.

The practice of identifying with a local congregation is a scriptural practice. How one identifies or places membership with a local body is an expedient matter. One can talk to the elders personally, write a letter, or come forward when the invitation is extended and make that request known. When an individual obeys the gospel of Christ, that individual should seek out a local congregation where they can work under the oversight of an eldership and help carry out the work of our Lord and Master. If Saul and Barnabas did it, why shouldn't we?

        -K.A. Pugh