Featured Church membership

I think the couple are wrong and the church is correct.

 

Your friend is wrong, and I’d have to say wrong in a way that was not so common a few decades ago but is very normal in today’s culture. We live in a very individualistic and consumer based culture that sees every one of us as sole proprietors of our belief system. I remember when Burger King was the only fast food restaurant where you could “have it your way” (in fact, that was at one time their slogan). We have grown accustomed to this, and it sometimes difficult to bind ourselves in a relationship that is the local church.

If your friend is open to discussion then I would start with examples throughout Scripture. I think the earliest descriptions of the church would be sufficient evidence to a believer of its necessity. As many as were saved were added to the church. The church met on specific days to meet the needs of one another and worship. People are gifted to function within a local church body. All of these imply church membership.

You could also explain that the epistles themselves imply church membership. None are written to “Christians at large” but to churches. The one exception may be Paul’s letters to the Christians in Rome, but even here the address is clearly to some type of organized churches (I believe meeting in homes). We see John writing to churches, and dealing with them as if they are a church rather than a collection of individual Christians. We see this in Revelation as well, with Christ's words to the seven churches.

Or, you could discuss the true dangers of your friend’s conclusions. Church discipline is impossible without church membership. There are many ways if you want to explain to your friend the vital importance and command that all who are saved are added to a church.

To the church - kudos. Sometimes I do see churches allowing non-members to teach. It is important that the church function as the church - that the church builds up its members, edifies its members, disciples its members. This is not a job for visitors.

So, while they are wrong about an "artificial construct", and the evidence is overwhelming of their error, I don't know that you will change their minds. Sometimes people have had bad experiences in church, and sometimes they just get burned out. Often they just don't want to have the type of bond and commitment that church membership (and Scripture) demand.

 

By joining - you are making a commitment to that church.
Just as you are when you wed - you are making a commitment
Apparently they were hurt too much in that church split.
Just as a divorced person may not want to be wed again - as they were hurt too much.

I fully agree that only active members of a church should vote in church business meeting.

 

And this is the downfall of many (perhaps most) baptist churches. They fail to keep their rolls up to date.

Our practices (as codified in our by-laws) placed a person on the "inactive" list after 90 days of non-attendance (with some exceptions: hospital, nursing home, military, college) during which all offices held were declared open and voting privileges were suspended. During this time the church leadership would attempt to work through the problem and have the person restored to full fellowship. If this failed, after three attempts (pastor, then pastor and deacon(s), then the church body), the person was dismissed from membership.

Church discipline is the great ignored responsibility of the modern church.