By: Ernest D. Pickering, Th.D
Are you seeking the leading of the Lord regarding your local church affiliation? If so ask yourself this question:
“Does the Bible say anything specific to guide me in my choice of a church?”
You Should Join a Church
Some Christians argue about the need to join a church. “Membership in the ‘invisible’ Church in sufficient,” claim the advocates of this position. “A believer should fellowship with a local congregation when possible,” they say, “but membership is unnecessary because the Christians in apostolic times never ‘joined’ a church.”
Scripture Indicates It
The Scriptures indicate that local churches had stated memberships. It is possible for churches to have a definite number of members without having a written list of them, though perhaps some early churches did keep written records of their members. The fact that widows were “taken into the number” (“enrolled,” 1 Timothy 5:9) suggests that they were members of the local congregation that enrolled them. It also implies that this select group was chosen from among a larger select group, namely, the membership of the church as a whole. As believers moved back and forth across the Roman Empire, they carried letters of introduction from one church to another (Acts 18:27). The Lord “added” to each local church those who were being saved (Acts 2:47). People could hardly be added to something that had no existence or stated constituency. Certain believers in each church had a right to vote, indicating an official relationship to the body (Acts 6:5).
Discipline Requires It
One of the strongest arguments supporting church membership is the obvious fact that the “New Testament empowers churches with the responsibility to discipline believers (1 Corinthians 5:1-13). Paul’s admonition to the Corinthian church to “put away from among yourselves that wicked person” would have little meaning (1) if the church had not received the man; (2) if he was not publicly and officially identified with the church; and (3) if he could not, consequently, be pursued from the fellowship and the privileges of church membership.
Example Enjoins It
Yes, you need to join a church—a New Testament church. Uniting with other believers is the natural instinct of a saved person (Acts 2:42). God Himself appointed the local church as the gathering place for Christians (Hebrews 10:25) and the center of His work in this age (1 Timothy 3:15). He has also committed to the church two ordinances and the power to exercise discipline. Membership in a sound church is important for believers: first, for the sake of their children (whom God gave them) and, second, for the exercise of their prerogative as church members. As members they have the privilege of watching the expenditure of tithes and offerings and of voting on church procedures.
You Should Join a Church with Biblical Doctrines
It is not enough to join just any church. To choose a church because you like the preacher, because it is located nearby, because it has a lovely nursery, or because your friends and relatives attend it is certainly an insufficient reason. Instead, you should consider this question: “Does the church preach and teach the whole Bible?” Some good Christians believe that it is enough for a church to preach just the gospel; that is, to tell people they have to be born again to go to Heaven. As important as this doctrine is, the Bible contains much more that the church is responsible to preach. You can tell much about a church’s doctrinal position by listening to its pastor a few times. You may ask for a copy of the church’s doctrinal statement, which you will want to compare closely with the Word of God.
Cardinal Doctrines
Do the church members believe the Bible to be the verbally inspired revelation of God, or do they view it as just a good religious book (2 Timothy 3:16)? Do they believe that Jesus Christ is the virgin-born Son of God, the only Savior of sinners (Matthew 1:20-21)? Does the church teach that a person is saved by baptism, good works, church membership or by simple faith in the shed blood of Christ (Acts 16:30-31)? If a church teaches salvation by any means other than grace through faith, the church is not a New Testament church. Ask, “Must a person be saved and publicly indicate that fact before he can be received into membership in this church?” The answer should be yes, for this is the New Testament pattern. Membership in a church is open only to those who have been born again by faith in Christ and who are not ashamed to confess their faith before others (Acts 2:47; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Romans 10:9-10).
Scriptural Ordinances
What does your prospective church teach about the ordinances, that is, baptism and the Lord's Supper? If the church denies either or both of the ordinances or does not faithfully observe them, it is not following the New Testament pattern. If the church observes more than two ordinances, it has added to the Scriptures. For example, nowhere do the Scriptures command the baptism of infants. Therefore, the practice is an innovation upon, and a departure from, New Testament teaching. Furthermore, the Bible clearly teaches that baptism is a public testimony of those who have consciously received Christ as their personal Savior (Acts 18:8). No infant can receive Christ personally and consciously, and water sprinkled or poured upon infants has no effect whatsoever upon the salvation of their souls. In fact, the custom is directly contrary to Biblical practice. The manner of baptism is important too. The Biblical mode is immersion of the entire body in water as a picture of our death, burrial, and resurrection with Christ (Acts 8:35-39; Romans 6:3-4). The word baptizo, from which we get our English word "baptize," means "to dip", immerse, plunge." It does not refer to the act of sprinkling or pouring water. A church that teaches that the mode of water baptism is unimportant can hardly be following Scripture fully, for Scripture is plain on the subject. New Testament churches received only immersed believers (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 2:41-42). The other ordinances is the Lord's Supper, which is a symbolical remembrance of Christ's sacrifice for us. The Lord commanded, "This do...in remembrance of Me" (1 Corinthians 11:25). Partaking of the Lord's Supper does not impart grace to the recipient.
Prophetic Truth
Any church that preaches the whole counsel of God (that is, all of God's Word) will not neglect prophecy. Does the church you are contemplating preach that Christ will literally come again? Does it believe He may come anythime? Do people believe that Christ will reign upon the earth for a thousand years, as predicted in Scripture? Does the pastor regularly proclaim the warnings and encouragements that are based upon Christ's coming (John 14:3; 1 Thesslonians 4:13-17; Revelation 20:1-6)? If the church you are considering does not proclaim these beliefs, you had better look elsewhere, for it surely is not a New Testament church.
You Should Join a Chuch with Biblical Organization
Church Government
God has established only one kind of local church—an autonomous (self-governing), independent congregation. The Bible knows of no bodies such as synods, presbyterians, general assemblies , or national conventions that have authority over local congregations. Acts 15 pictures a church in action. It receives messengers from other church (v.4) and makes its own decisions regarding its problems (vv.22-25). The letters of Christ to the seven churches (Revelation 1-3) reveal that each church is responsible only to Christ, its Head, and not to human authority outside the sphere of the local congregation. Each church owns its own officers, chooses its own objects of benevolence, and disciplines its own members without outside interference, either civil or ecclesiastical.
Church Officers
Only two officers are designed by Christ to serve in New Testament churches. They are pastors (elders or bishops) and deacons (Philippians 1:1). No support can be found in Scripture for other gradations of ecclesiatical officials.
Church Discipline
Any church that you join as a sincere believer in Christ should believe in and practice church discipline. Difficulties within the local church are to be handled in the way prescribed by Christ (Matthew 18:15-17), and the voice of the local church is final. If a church dismisses a member for some action or attitude unbecoming to a Christian, the member has no recourse beyond the local church. God's method for keeping His churches pure lies in His instruction concerning church discipline. Churches that tolerates open sin, rebellion, and un-Christian attitudes are not to be supported by God's people.
You Should Join a Church with Biblical Worship
Two primary practices will serve as standards for judging the worship of a church. First, does the minister expound the Bible; that is, does he use the Bible as the basis of his message, explaining it to the people as he preaches? Second, do the members of the congregation bring their Bibles with them to Sunday School and church, and do they use them in the services? Examine Acts 17:10-12 to see how early Christians "searched the scriptures." If the sermons and ministry of the church largely bypass the content of the Bible, that church has no real message from God. Simplicity of worship is also essential. Some churches have a great deal of formalism with candles, altars, choirchants, divided chancels, ministers in robes, and the like. Where in the New Testament can these things be found? Chrisitians are to worship God simply, with good singing, reading of the Scripture, public prayer, gospel music, and the preaching of the Word of God, without ostentation and formalism.
You Should Join a Church with Biblical Practices
When you seek a church home, you should consider whether the church you are considering is evangelistic or not. Are the members content to maintain their present membership, or are they earnestly striving for the salvation of people in their community (Acts 5:28, 42)? Does the church give sinners an opportunity to receive Christ and to be dealt with from the Word of God? Is the church truly missionary-minded at home as well as abroad? Does it have an active missionary program (Matthew 28:19-20)? If so, the members will probably praying for missionaries. Missionaries whom they support will be listed in the bulletin or a map, and the church's budget will indicate an active interest. Some churches have never completely obeyed the commands of Scripture regarding separation from affiliation with other churches and denominations that do not preach the Word of God. An obedient Christian could not belong to a church that is in any way affiliated with the National Council or World Council of Churches, for these groups deny the Biblical truths so precious to the believer. Some churches preach the fundamentals of the faith but remain affiliated woth denominations whose schools, publishing houses, and leaders deny great truths of Scripture. Paul, in writing to the Corinthian church, definitely instructed, "Be ye separate" and warned them against being "unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). Also note the church's position regarding personal separation from the world. If leaders in the church do not manifest a clean and separated life, the church is not one in which you would find a wholesome Christian atmosphere. In addition, it will certainly be important to note the church's attitude toward finances. Do the members endeavor to raise money for the work of the church by bazaars, fairs, suppers, or other commercial means? True churches of Christ receive their money from the regular tithes and offerings of Christian people and not by the use of commercial methods (2 Corinthians 8:1-3; 9:6-8).
Conclusion
Historically, the people called "Baptists" have tried to follow the major principles stated in this tract. Unfortunately, not all churches calling themselves Baptist are proclaiming the principles found in God's Word. However, with Spiritual discrimination and the leading of the Holy Spirit, you will be able to find a Bible-believing Baptist church in your area that bears witness to the truths of God's Word. It is with such a church you should unite. Have a talk with the Pastor. He will be glad to answer your questions and give you counsel concerning the opportunities his church has to offer.
