Why Church Membership Might Matter More Than You Think

Arguments In favor of Formal Church Membership

"The church is made up of real human beings with all their faults and failings, and yet she is the bride of Christ, chosen and precious in His sight. We dare not despise her, for all her weaknesses, because Christ does not."
(A.W. Tozer,"The Church’s One Foundation,"1970)

I get it—church membership can feel like a problematic, outdated formality. Maybe you’ve seen it done poorly, where it’s just a name on a list, or maybe it’s been overblown into something weird and controlling. I’ve been there too. But hear me out: our experiences don’t get the final say in the matter. As a pastor, I’ve had to think deeply about this issue, especially as I’ve tried organizing God’s crazy people over the years. I realize there’s no place in the Bible that speaks explicitly to formalized church membership, but keep in mind, the Scriptures also don’t speak explicitly about many important issues. At our church, we’re trying to look past that and ask, “What does God’s Word show us, and what would the weight of Scripture encourage us to do?” We haven’t come to ironclad positions, but we do think Scripture makes a strong case for formal membership over more loose, libertarian approaches to membership. This is to help you know why we practice more formal membership, and why you should consider it.

1. The Early Church Wasn’t a Drop-In Club
   You might think, “I can follow Jesus without signing up for anything.” But that seems very different from the early church in Acts—they weren’t casual attendees. They met in specific places, like Jason’s house (Acts 17:5-7), and stuck together for teaching, meals, and prayer (Acts 2:42-47). Groups in Jerusalem or Corinth had a sense of “we’re in this together” (1 Corinthians 1:2). Formal membership is just a way to acknowledge this. It says, “This is my crew,” not “I’m just passing through.”

2. God’s Pictures of the Church Show a clear Identity and Commitment
   Scripture uses vivid images for the church—they’re not vague:

   • Family (Ephesians 2:19): You don’t drift in and out of a family—you’re in or you’re not. It’s always unfortunate when you don’t know who your family is. Membership says, “These are my people, and I’m committed to them.”

   • Flock (John 10:14-16): Flocks are identifiable, and the shepherd always knows his count. Jesus doesn’t lose track of His sheep. Membership helps members find comfort in their togetherness and helps pastors know who they’re responsible for—not to control, but to care for them.

   • Army (2 Timothy 2:3-4): The army analogy isn’t pointing toward disorganized, random volunteers. You know who’s enlisted and who’s not. You know who the leaders are. Many of our church problems may stem from the fact that we don’t take this as seriously as we should.

   • Body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27): A body’s parts aren’t optional—they’re attached. If part of your body goes missing there is a real problem, but there may be times when something is growing on you that does not belong. In each case, the composition of the body helps you identify strengths and problems. Membership facilitates this knowledge.

   • A Bride (Ephesians 5:25-27, Revelation 19:7-8) suggests a committed covenant relationship. A groom knows his bride intimately, not casually. Church membership echoes this by marking out those committed to Christ’s local assembly, hinting at the ultimate wedding feast in heaven where the bride is fully known and united with the Bridegroom.

   • Temple (1 Peter 2:5): Every stone’s picked for a spot. Membership says, “I’m part of the build.”
     These analogies lead one to see the church being more organized rather than less.

3. Unity’s Tough Without a Team
   Ever try keeping peace with people who aren’t really “in”? Scripture pushes unity in the local church(Ephesians 4:1-3), but that’s hard if we don’t know who is committed. Membership gives us a group to stick with and work things out with, not just scatter when it gets messy.

4. Loving Each Other Needs a “Who”
   “Love one another” sounds great (1 Thessalonians 5:11), but who’s the “one another”? Now to be sure, I should love everybody including my enemies, but there’s a unique love I’m to have for my brothers and sisters in the church. Membership makes it clear who we’re called to support, pray for, and lift up—not just whoever shows up that week.

5. Accountability Keeps Us Honest
   You might cringe at “accountability”—it can sound judgy. But Jesus says if someone’s stuck in sin, we should help them (Matthew 18:15-17). Without membership, who do you call out? And when they refuse to correct, how do you exclude them from something that was so vague? It’s not about policing—it’s about caring enough to say, “Hey, let’s get back on track.” Formal membership can be more helpful in this than a libertarian approach to membership.

6. Leaders Need to Know Who They’re Leading
   Pastors and elders are told to shepherd and know the state of their church/flock (1 Timothy 3:1-13). But shepherd who? Membership lets them focus on a real group, not guess who’s just visiting. It’s practical, not bossy.

7. Your Gifts Need a Place to Shine
   You’ve got something to offer—Scripture says so (1 Corinthians 12:4-27). Membership plugs you into a team where your gifts can actually build something, not just float around unused. A formal membership can help us organize around the gifts of those who are actually committed to the success of this local body.

8. Growth Happens Better Together
   Sure, you can grow alone, but Ephesians 4:13-16 says we mature best in community. Membership puts you in a spot where others can challenge and encourage you—like iron sharpening iron.

9. Worship’s Fuller When You’re All In
   Baptism and the Lord’s Supper aren’t solo acts (Acts 2:42). They’re family moments. Membership says, “I’m baptized into this family, and I’m part of this table,” not just watching from the sidelines.

10. False Teaching’s Easier to Spot Together
    Wolves sneak in—Scripture warns us (Acts 20:28-30). Membership ties you to a group with solid leaders who can say, “That’s off,” keeping us grounded.

11. Discipline Sounds Harsh, But It’s Love
    Okay, “church discipline” might make you squirm. But Jesus (Matthew 18:15-17) and Paul (1 Corinthians 5:5) say it’s how we help someone find their way together. With formal membership, it’s a family saying, “We love you too much to let this slide.” God disciplines us because He cares (Hebrews 12:5-11)—shouldn’t we do the same?

12. The Church Is Made Up of Regenerate MembersThere may be loose people who say they’re part of our church, but they might not even be believers. Scripture paints the church as a body of those born again, not just anyone who shows up. Jesus warned that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” truly knows Him—only those who do the Father’s will enter the kingdom (Matthew 7:21-23). Paul says believers are “a new creation” in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), marked by faith and the Spirit (Ephesians1:13-14). It’s no help to anyone to encourage a charade of membership if their life doesn’t reflect this regeneration—John says we’ll know them by their fruit (1 John 2:3-6; Matthew 12:33). It’s actually loving to be clear about this, because pretending risks false assurance. When the writer of Hebrews urges us to examine ourselves to see if we’re in the faith (2 Corinthians 13:5), it’s for their good—to point them to true salvation, not just a seat in the pew. Membership helps us define who’s truly part of this regenerate family, so we’re not blurring lines God cares about.

13. The Local Church is a representation of Heaven: Scripture shows Heaven as a defined people, not a vague crowd. The “great multitude” in Revelation 7:9 comes from every nation, yet they’re united, standing before the throne with purpose. Their names are recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 13:8; 21:27)—a registry of those who belong to Christ, sealed by His blood (Hebrews 12:23 calls it the “church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven”). This isn’t abstract; it’s objective and personal. God knows His own perfectly like a shepherd knows his flock (John 10:14). The local church mirrors this by being a tangible, identifiable body—Acts 2:47 says the Lord “added to their number” those being saved, suggesting a real group with real boundaries.

Conclusion: A Step Toward Something Bigger

There’s a clear pattern in Scripture—God’s people are consistently known, counted, and committed. In the Old Testament, Israel’s tribes were named and numbered (Numbers 1:2-3); in the New Testament, the early church knew exactly who belonged (Acts 4:32-35). Community, commitment, accountability, and love all work together. These aren’t just abstract ideas—they point to a way of life that’s more intentional than casually showing up to a vague, unidentifiable group.

The evidence leans more toward formal membership than a loose, informal approach. If anything, I should be asking: without a formal commitment, how else will I live out these callings? There might be a better way somewhere, but for us, formal membership does more to help than hinder. Join us as God builds a strong community of believers here!