Qualifications for Church Membership

Upon salvation, 1 Corinthians 12:13 declares that the believer becomes a member of the body of Christ. Anyone who has been united with Christ is qualified to join a local expression of His body. To join, the believer must commit themselves to the biblical purposes for which the local church has gathered. These include the receiving of instruction from God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 4:2), serving and edifying one another through the proper use of 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 the lost (Matt. 28:18- 20). In addition, joining a church also includes one’s submission to the ministry and authority of biblically qualified pastors (Heb 13:17).

In Galatians 2:9, Paul and Barnabas were welcomed into the fellowship (koinonia) by Peter, James, and John. Their confirmed membership in this fellowship was a confirmation that they were partakers with Christ. This is a template of what occurs when one becomes a church member. The individual Christian makes a public affirmation and is publicly identified with the local church body by leaders of that body and enters into continuing spiritual partnership. This public affirmation is one of unity with Christ, concern for each other, and a desire for mutual edification and spiritual growth.

With the aforementioned in view, church members should be regular in their attendance and demonstrate their concern for and commitment to one another by their actions (Heb 10:25). Unfortunately, many church members choose to attend sporadically and/or ‘church-hop’ in their never-ending quest to have their felt needs met. Such members should be admonished to return to the biblical example for church membership.

For new converts, it is assumed that their conversion will be immediately followed by believer’s baptism. Their public profession of faith, their indication of desire to enter fellowship, together with their baptism should serve as the basis for their membership based on Acts 2:41. While some early churches, other churches throughout history, and even some contemporary churches require membership classes and the like, the Scriptures do not offer any teachings that support this approach. Churches who do require membership classes before entrance to fellowship usually want to confirm the new converts’ proper understanding and reception of the gospel, various other important theological matters, expectations of membership, and clear intention of commitment. While these concerns are all valid, a more biblical approach would be to require new members to participate in classes on these topics and then hold them accountable as a matter of church discipline.

For those desiring membership who come from other denominations, a proper assessment of the motives, their understanding of the gospel and other important biblical teachings, their belief and acceptance of the gospel, and their baptism is warranted. Those who comply fully with the current teachings of the church and satisfactorily pass the examination of the pastor should be allowed fellowship. Those who do not must submit to the instruction of the pastor regarding their particular instructions.

Those coming from sister churches in the SBC fellowship of churches must likewise be carefully examined by the pastor in much the same way as there is so much variation among churches within the denomination. After a proper assessment, the pastor can confirm their intention, instruct them concerning any issues that need addressing, and/or deny their request.