This past Sunday, a sweet elderly woman met with the elders at the Swartz Creek church of Christ and expressed her desire to “place membership” with the Swartz Creek church of Christ. She was here when Rachel and I first moved here, then she moved to NC, and recently returned.
In the passage we have before us, Acts 9:26-28, we see the concept if not the actual words “placing membership.” Saul of Tarsus was already a Christian. He had become a Christian in 9:17-18. Now, he is in Jerusalem and he wants to “join” the church of Christ in Jerusalem. He is meeting with the leaders of the church, if not the apostles, and they are afraid to accept Saul into their fellowship. Why? Because he has a history. Barnabas, on the other hand, trusts Saul and “goes to bat” for him with the church leadership.
THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH:
When one obeys the Gospel of Christ, that individual is added to the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). Luke tells us in Acts 2:47 that God adds the saved to His church. Every Christian, then, is a member of the church of Christ in its universal sense. But the “universal church” has no assembly; it has no organization; it has no worship service. The church is embodied only in a local assembly of Christians who honor God in their worship and serve Christ and their fellow man together, in a local body of Christians.
The word “church” is used 114 times in the NT and the most often use of the word refers to the local congregation. The NT does not know of a Christian who is a “Christian-at-large,” who is not associated with a local congregation.
Christians are to be involved together in the “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope” (1 Thess. 1:3). The Hebrew writer talks about the “work and love which Christians show toward Christ in ministering to the saints” (6:10).
In 2 Corinthians 3:1, we have what appears to be a “letter of commendation” from one congregation to another congregation, in order to encourage fellowship with certain Christians. That is, in principle, the very thing we talk about when we say “placing membership.”
THE SHEPHERDS OF THE CHURCH:
From Acts 14:23, we see every congregation is to have its own eldership. That’s autonomy. Every congregation chooses its own leaders and is obligated on its own to stay faithful to Christ. In Acts 20:28, we learn that the eldership is to oversee its own flock and the elders are responsible to Christ for that flock.
The very designation “bishop” means someone who “oversees.” The word is used 5 times in the NT: Acts 20:28; Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:7. Jesus is the “Shepherd and Guardian of our souls” (1 Peter 2:25). But He has entrusted that act – being a shepherd and guardian (which is the word “bishop”; KJV). If elders have the responsibility to “oversee,” then the church has the responsibility to “be overseen.” That suggests that the elders need to know who will be a part of the local congregation.
Elders (shepherds) have a responsibility to Jesus Christ to know who you are and where you are spiritually. They have the oversight of the local congregation. How can elders ask you to participate in the work of the church if they don’t know anything about you? Are you a good representative of the church? Of Swartz Creek? Of Christianity?
In Hebrews 13:17, we learn that elders will give an account for the souls whom Jesus has entrusted to their care. See also 1 Peter 5:1-4.
“ASSOCIATING WITH” / “PLACING MEMBERSHIP”:
“Placing membership” is an act of respect for the elders. It acknowledges the role they have and the responsibility they exercise under the eyes of Jesus Christ.
The elders cannot extend (in Paul’s words in Galatians 2:9) “the right hand of fellowship” to someone who is not, in fact, in fellowship with Jesus Christ.
There are some questions elders might need to ask. Why? Because Paul warns Christians in 1 Corinthians 5:11 that they cannot have fellowship with those who are immoral, covetous, drunkards, swindlers, etc.
If one is baptized at Swartz Creek, the elders assume that individual implicitly acknowledges their submission to the leadership and consider themself a member of the Swartz Creek church of Christ. Unless he or she will be, in fact, a member somewhere else and they submit to the leadership of the other congregation. If, however, one has come from somewhere outside, then it is important to meet with the elders and get acquainted and let them know what one’s intentions are.
If you are not a member at Swartz Creek, set a time with the elders in order to let them know you want to be considered a member here. If the elders ask you to meet with them, don’t be intimidated. Consider it an honor.
Paul Holland
