If there are no Scriptures or early church traditions relating to Church membership, why is membership practiced in churches today? I can’t answer for all churches, but I can tell you why our church practices membership.

Healthy relationships need commitment. A marriage won’t last if a wife is constantly afraid her husband is going to walk out the door. Investing in a relationship or community is about challenging each other, being there for each other in a pinch, bonding over wings and laughter, holding each other accountable, and serving with a common purpose. For Petra Church, membership essentially means three things: first, we’re trying to fulfill a similar mission; second, we’re walking together in a set of shared values and beliefs; and third, we are committed to investing in this relationship.

Membership = Common Mission

Jesus sent his disciples out to “make disciples of all nations.” That was their mission. Our church finds its purpose in that mission, to make disciples of all nations. Everything we do should somehow fit into that. We’re not just here to fill pews or provide a great children’s ministry. We are expanding God’s kingdom to people who have never heard the gospel and maturing those who are already following it. Listen to Petra Church’s mission statement: “We are empowered to bring Jesus’ love, healing, and hope to the world.” You can hear how our church’s mission is specific enough to us but aligns with Christ’s mission to the nations. Our mission keeps us moving forward and focused on God’s will, not our own. We are trying to build Jesus’ kingdom of love and truth on earth.   

Membership = Alignment

Our church is decently large. Anyone can walk through the doors of our church, bringing with them bad habits and strange ideas, and worship with us. We are an open community. Anyone is free to come, free to explore, free to worship, and free to leave. If it’s not a fit, no one is forcing you to stay. We’re not a secret society. There’s no secret handshake or midnight magic. We have a set of core beliefs and a set of common practices that make us who we are, that is our church’s culture. Our membership process is not extensive, but it does ensure that people will take the time to hear us say out loud: “This is what we believe, this is how we act, and this is how we practically function.” Church membership helps clarify everyone’s expectations and reproduce our convictions and culture. The membership process offers people not only the opportunity to experience our community on a Sunday, but also to peek into the kitchen and see where the sauce is made.

The membership process is also a bit like dating. You get to know us. We get to know you. We are discovering more about each other before any formal commitments are made. Our church leadership has turned certain people away from membership and specific service opportunities because they didn’t align with some of our essential beliefs or were disrespectful to our community’s practices. Many people have also chosen not to formally partner with our church because it doesn’t fully align with their personal values. That’s ok. There are other churches that may be a healthier fit for them. God calls different people to commit to fit into communities.

Membership = Commitment

We live in a highly mobile and transient society. People don’t want to be entangled by commitments. But, how do you build healthy relationships without commitment? It’s like trying to be nice to a stray cat. Commitment forces us to move beyond being aimless wanderers and spectators and become contributors and participants. Commitment means we are investing our time, energy, and resources into “this” person, “this” group, not just any person or any group. I’m choosing to live out the ideals of faith with a few very specific people. That’s what marriage is. That’s what friendship is. That’s what commitment to a church community is.

There are a few general objections people have to becoming church members, but mostly, I think people are just skeptical of being controlled by someone else. That’s not unreasonable. Again, I can only speak for Petra Church. Will Petra try to control your life? No. Membership does not give Petra Church leadership the authority to control you or dictate your life decisions (e.g., who you should marry, or who to partner with in business). The church respects personal autonomy while holding everyone to the same standards of Biblical conduct. Membership is a continuation of your free participation and commitment to our community. At any point that a person feels the Lord calling them away from the Petra community, you are free to leave. We will be sad to see them go, but we really love “sending” people into their next mission field with a blessing.

What if I don’t become a member? 

We will still love you. Petra is an open community free for anyone to come in and receive the life and ministry of Jesus. Regular attendees who do not become members can continue to join groups, attend events, and be ministered to on Sunday mornings in our public services. Non-members who follow Jesus can also participate in baptism and communion. If you belong to God’s family, you can participate in those universal Christian practices regardless of your commitment to this particular church family.

Then why should I even become a member?

A higher level of trust and responsibility is extended to those who have committed themselves to the community. Members have access to more relational investment from leaders, a wider range of opportunities to serve, and ministry development to grow in their calling and gifts. That level of trust is the appropriate match for a person who feels called to our common mission, lives in alignment with our values, and walks in a committed relationship. Trust, relationship, and shared purpose are rare qualities these days, and that’s why Church Membership is still important to us.

Tags: values, community, membership, culture, doctrine, commitment, biblical, practices, alignment, rituals, participant