WELCOME TO THE FAMILY! 

“Church Membership”

Preamble

The purpose of this “Welcome to the Family” section is to assist the leaders of OBC in shepherding the flock. They need to know who the individual sheep are in the flock at OBC. Our Lord’s intention is for every follower of Christ to commit to a local church in order to thrive as a Christian. The ‘body’ metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 demonstrates the importance of belonging to and serving in a local church. Every local gathering of Christians is just like a “big family” where each brother and sister in Christ is divinely designed to love all others in the “family” and to collectively worship God together.

When you became a Christian you automatically joined God’s wider family—forever! However, it’s God’s desire that you identify with a local church for His glory, for your benefit, and for the edification and encouragement that you will bring to others in the fellowship. Our Trust Deed also requires that we have formal members in order to fulfil our legal responsibilities, especially in regard to property and financial decisions. A more formalised membership also protects the church in the case of ungodly and unjust legal accusations.

It is important that you have a good understanding of a church’s foundational principles before committing to that church, therefore, we ask you to read through our detailed Doctrinal Statement (see below). In a nutshell, here at OBC, we are committed to:

A high view of God’s glory and the centrality of Christ
The daily importance of being filled by the Spirit
An inerrant, authoritative and sufficient Bible
Expositional preaching that unleashes the Spirit’s truth upon our hearts and minds
The proclamation of sound doctrine that produces holy living
Fellowship and relationship building in small group contexts
The importance of “making disciples” anywhere, anytime
An emphasis on “family” and living out the “one another” phrases found in Scripture

Our specific emphasis is reflected in our L.I.G.H.T. Purpose Statement (see earlier section) which reminds us to be a Loving, Imparting, Glorifying, Hoping and Teaching church. Along with the foundational principles mentioned above our Purpose Statement enables us to stay true to God’s will and plan for us. If you need clarification or have questions about our doctrinal position, please chat with one of the elders. It is not necessary to agree with every detail of our doctrinal position to fellowship at OBC, but in order to maintain Christian unity we ask that you express any differences to us and not to other members of the church.

Scripture calls church leaders to shepherd the flock of God (1 Pet. 5:2) and give oversight to the various ministries. We take this responsibility seriously as we seek to care for the members and provide spiritual direction for the church family. We believe God expects OBC family members to willingly submit to the biblical direction, counsel, and instruction given by the leaders (Heb. 13:17). Likewise, we believe each member should make a commitment to serve in the church as God enables. This is God’s method of strengthening the church. As each individual uses his or her spiritual gift (1 Pet. 4:10; Eph. 4:11-16) the body grows mature, unity is solidified, and God is glorified.

The local church is often referred to as the family of God. It’s a place where spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ function together for the glory of God. God designed the local church to be a place for believers to grow spiritually mature by hearing God’s Word taught, learning from others, and by using the spiritual gifts that God has distributed to him or her (1 Pet. 4:10). Sadly, there are many Christians who have not connected with a local church and perhaps see no reason to do so. Maybe they haven’t been given a biblical understanding of the local church; perhaps they’ve been hurt by a church in the past and are reluctant to get hurt again; maybe they don’t see “church membership” taught in the Bible. Whatever the case, they are missing something very important to their spiritual growth and the advancement of the gospel.

To join the OBC family is to formally commit to an identifiable, local body of believers who have joined together for specific, divinely ordained purposes. These purposes include receiving instruction from God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2), serving and edifying one another by using our spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-31; 1 Pet. 4:10-11), participating in the ordinances (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:38-42), and proclaiming the gospel to those who are lost (Matt. 28:18-20). In addition, when one chooses to belong to the OBC family, he or she graciously submits to the care and leadership of the OBC elders.

We believe every follower of Christ should intentionally and formally commit to become an active participant in their local church. Although Scripture does not give a specific command to formally join a local church, the biblical implications for “church membership” permeate the New Testament. The following biblical passages assume believers in one location have joined together in order to form one body of believers, namely, the local church.

John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

1 Peter 2:17, “Love the brotherhood …”

Galatians 6:10,
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Romans 15:1
“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

Romans 12:13, 15-16
“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality … Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another.”

1 Thessalonians 5:11
“… encourage one another and build one another up.”

Hebrews 10:24-25
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Hebrews 12:15-16
“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy ...”

1 Corinthians 5:1-5
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”

Hebrews 13:17
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

Numerous other passages could be referenced, however, the above is sufficient. Based on these verses it is clear that every believer should intentionally and formally belong to a local church family.

 The Biblical Basis for Joining a Local Church Family

As mentioned above, Scripture does not contain an explicit command to formally join a local church, however, the biblical basis can be seen most clearly in (1) the example of the early church, (2) the existence of church government, (3) the exhortation to mutual edification, and (4) the exercise of church discipline.

The Example of the Early Church

In the early church, coming to Christ was coming to the church. The idea of experiencing salvation without belonging to a local church is foreign to the New Testament. When individuals repented and believed in Christ, they were baptised and added to the church (Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14; 16:5). More than simply living out a private commitment to Christ, this meant joining together formally with other believers in a local assembly and devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42).

The epistles of the New Testament were written to churches. In the case of the few written to individuals—such as Philemon, Timothy and Titus—these individuals were leaders in churches. The New Testament epistles themselves demonstrate that the Lord assumed that believers would be committed to a local assembly.
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There is also evidence in the New Testament that just as there was a list of widows eligible for financial support (1 Tim. 5:9), there may also have been a list of members that grew as people were saved (cf. Acts 2:41, 47; 5:14; 16:5). In fact, when a believer moved to another city, his church often wrote a letter of commendation to his new church (Acts 18:27; Rom. 16:1; Col. 4:10; cf. 2 Cor. 3:1-2).

In the book of Acts, much of the terminology fits only with the concept of formal church membership. Phrases such as “the whole congregation” (6:5), “the church in Jerusalem” (8:1), “the disciples” in Jerusalem (9:26), “in every church” (14:23), “the whole church” (15:17), and “the elders of the church” in Ephesus (20:17), all suggest recognisable church membership with well-defined boundaries (also see 1 Cor. 5:4; 14:23; and Heb.10:25). Furthermore, Euodia, Syntyche and Clement are recorded in Scripture as belonging to a church in Philippi.

The Existence of Church Government

The consistent pattern throughout the New Testament is that a plurality of elders is to oversee each local body of believers. The specific duties given to these elders presuppose a clearly defined group of church members who are under their care. Among other things, these godly men are responsible to shepherd God’s people (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2), to labour diligently among them (1 Thess. 5:12), to have charge over them (1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 5:17), and to keep watch over their souls (Heb. 13:17). Scripture teaches that the elders will give an account to God for the individuals allotted to their charge (Heb. 13:17; 1 Pet. 5:3).

Those responsibilities require that there be a distinguishable, mutually understood membership in the local church. Elders can shepherd the people and give an account to God for their spiritual well-being only if they know who they are; they can provide oversight only if they know those for whom they are responsible; and they can fulfil their duty to shepherd the flock only if they know who is part of the flock and who is not. The elders of a church are not responsible for the spiritual well-being of every individual who visits the church or who attends sporadically. Rather, they are primarily responsible to shepherd those who have submitted themselves to the care and the authority of the elders, and this is done through church membership.

Conversely, Scripture teaches that believers are to submit to their elders. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders, and submit to them.” The question for each believer is, “Who are your leaders?” The one who has refused to join a local church and entrust himself to the care and the authority of the elders has no leaders. For that person, obedience to Hebrews 13:17 is impossible. To put it simply, this verse implies that every believer knows to whom he must submit, which, in turn, assumes clearly defined church membership.

The Exhortation to Mutual Edification

The New Testament teaches that the church is the body of Christ, and that God has called every member to a life devoted to the growth of the body. In other words, Scripture exhorts all believers to edify the other members by practicing the “one-anothers” of the New Testament (e.g., Heb. 10:24-25) and exercising their spiritual gifts (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4- 7; 1 Pet. 4:10-11). Mutual edification can only take place in the context of the corporate body of Christ. Exhortations to this kind of ministry presuppose that believers have committed themselves to other believers in a specific local assembly. Church membership is simply the formal way to make that commitment.

The Exercise of Church Discipline

In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus outlines the way the church is to seek the restoration of a believer who has fallen into sin—a four-step process commonly known as church discipline. First, when a brother sins, he is to be confronted privately by a single individual (v. 15). If he refuses to repent, that individual is to take one or two other believers along to confront him again (v. 16). If the sinning brother refuses to listen to the two or three, they are then to tell it to the church (v. 17). If there is still no repentance, the final step is to treat the person as an unbeliever and if necessary, put the person out of the assembly (v. 17; cf. 1 Cor. 5:1-13).

The exercise of church discipline according to Matthew 18 and other passages (1 Cor. 5:1- 13; 1 Tim. 5:20; Titus 3:10-11) presupposes that the elders know each individual member. The elders of Onekawa Bible Church have neither the responsibility nor the authority to discipline a member of the church down the street. When the New Testament speaks on church discipline it assumes church membership.

Conclusion

Living out a commitment to a local church involves many responsibilities: exemplifying a godly lifestyle in the community, exercising one’s spiritual gifts in diligent service, contributing financially to the work of the ministry, giving and receiving admonishment with meekness and in love, and faithfully participating in corporate worship. Much is expected, but much is at stake. For only when every believer is faithful to this kind of commitment is the church able to live up to her calling as Christ’s representative here on earth. To put it simply, membership matters.

Thank you for considering OBC as your church family. If this is the church where you believe you belong, and you are 16 years of age or older, then please fill in the “Welcome to the Family” Application Form and in anticipation that your application will be accepted, we would be thrilled to say to you, “Welcome to the family!” It would then be our joy to assist you in getting established and developing friendships with others in our fellowship.
How Do I Commit to the OBC Church Family?

For anyone who would like to confirm his or her formal commitment to the church family, we would ask that you please fill in a “Welcome to the Family: Affirmation Form” and submit it to the elders (It can be hand delivered to an elder or emailed to elders@onekawabiblechurch.org.nz). If the Affirmation Form is endorsed by the elders then you will be formally welcomed into the church family during an appropriate Sunday service.

How Do I Leave the OBC Church Family?

We recognise that there are legitimate reasons why individuals or families transition to other local church families. It may be due to moving out of Hawkes Bay, or a difference of doctrinal belief, or perhaps a desire to join another local church to encourage, enrich, and strengthen that body. Whatever the reason, it would be appropriate to discuss this with an elder and give a letter of resignation (or email) to one of the elders with a brief reason for the departure. If possible, the elders would like to make this transition as smooth and as helpful as possible in order to maintain the unity of the wider body of Christ.

The elders also have the authority to remove a member from the church family membership list in the event that that person has not attended or participated in the life and ministry of the church for a prolonged period of time. There is no set time period for this as it will be at the discretion of the current serving elders (it will most likely be six months or longer). Likewise, the elders have the right to exclude anyone from the church family as a consequence of church discipline (see the next section).