Church Membership is in view in Matthew 18
THERE IS NO WAY TO EXERCISE CHURCH DISCIPLINE UNLESS THERE IS A MEMBERSHIP
Mat. 18:7 instructs the church to consider an unrepentant brother as a “heathen man and a publican.” How would this be done? Certainly not by denying him access to the meetings! We would most assuredly want heathen people to attend our services and hear the preaching of God’s Word. 1 Cor. 14:23-25 shows the importance of this. Neither could it mean to stop speaking to the person. Christians should definitely speak to heathen people; how else could we win them to Christ? But, a church could not permit a heathen to be elected as one of its officers, or preach, or teach, or vote on church matters, or partake of the Lord’s Supper. Therefore, to say that only certain people are eligible to hold office, etc., is to designate a membership.”[1]
Often people today have a lack of understanding of church membership. We have people attend who are not members and therefore not ready or qualified to serve. This weakens a church because now they have many people attend who stand aloof, not yet ready to be a part of the assembly, to be an active member. May I remind you that Jesus died for the church, he gave himself for it? It was that same spirit and commitment that caused many to suffer a martyrs death. May God gives us people that with that type of commitment today.
Thanks for asking,
Pastor Stewart
[1] Way o f Life Literature