Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: March 22, 2009
INCORPORATING NEW MEMBERS INTO THE CHURCH – Part 1
Ben Justice
New members being incorporated into the church is a wonderful thing. It clearly indicates church growth,
especially as it relates to numerical growth. This incorporation comes about in two ways: (1) When one
obeys the gospel and is added to the church by the Lord (Acts 2:47). (2) When one identifies with a local
congregation (cf. Acts 9:26). It will be the burden of this article to expand upon this and also to set forth
some very often overlooked matters when it comes to incorporating new members into the church.
As has already been noted above, when one obeys the gospel, they are added to the church by the Lord.
Acts 2:47 states, “. . . And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” The church in this
passage is the Lord’s church — the one he promised to build (Matt. 16:18). It is the body of Christ or the
church universal. If a person is taught the gospel and they obey the gospel, it results in being saved. The
Lord adds the saved to his church — his body. Thus, the saved are in the church — not out of it. It is clear,
therefore, that the same process that results in salvation results in being incorporated into the church.
The Lord does it — not man. One does not do one thing to be saved and then something entirely different
to become a member of the Lord’s church. “Getting saved” (as it is commonly expressed in religious circles
today) and then joining the church of your choice is a foreign concept to the NT. The NT knows nothing of
this plan of salvation. Thus, a person’s conversion to Christ brings him into the church universal.
Even though the Lord adds the saved ones to his spiritual body — the church — this doesn’t necessarily
mean that this makes them a member of a particular and specific local congregation. Every local congregation
in the NT had an identifiable membership. And, it should be noted that only the local church is organized to
function as a collective unit. The church universal is not organized. Since this is the case, it is imperative
that each member of the body of Christ formerly identify themselves with a local congregation.
Identification with a local congregation is absolutely essential by the very nature of the case. It is a
violation of God’s plan and pattern for the existence and work of the local church if a member of the church
doesn’t identify themselves with a local congregation.
Acts 9:26 is a pivotal and key passage in this connection — “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he
assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.”
When Saul first obeyed the gospel, the Lord added him to the church. However, at first, Saul identified
himself with the disciples at Damascus (Acts 9:19). Saul was in Damascus “many days” (Acts 9:23). When
Saul came to Jerusalem, he placed his membership with that congregation. The phrase “to the disciples” (v.
26) is simply another way of saying “to the church.” What Luke recorded concerning what Saul did is
another way of saying what we commonly call “placing membership.” Saul was incorporated into the
Jerusalem church.
From Jerusalem, Saul went to Antioch, where he identified with that local congregation (Acts 11:26; 13:1-2).
In the very nature of the case, a local congregation can’t even exist without members. If everyone had the
attitude of some in being floaters from one congregation to another, from Sunday to Sunday, then the local
congregation could not even function in carrying out its God-given work. If one identifies with a local
congregation or is identified with a local congregation, then they ought to be faithful and loyal to that local
congregation. It is sad that many want to be exempt from congregational responsibility and accountability;
they want to forever remain beyond the reach of oversight and discipline; they want to forever remain
outside the scope of the work of the local church. Those who do this will have to answer to God.
Now, there is an important area that must be addressed at this point; it is something that many
congregations (esp. elders and leaders) ignore when someone seeks to place membership with a local
congregation. It is unfortunate beyond belief that many leaders in the church allow just anyone to be
identified with them without even asking one single question about their spiritual standing. Recall again
what Acts 9:26 says about Saul. The passage says that “he assayed to join himself to the disciples.” Focus
upon the word “assayed.” It is from the Greek word peirao. It means to attempt or try to do something. It is
interesting that this verb is in the imperfect tense, which suggests that Saul repeatedly tried to join himself
to the disciples. It is clear that the disciples (i.e. church) in Jerusalem did not want Saul to be incorporated
into their membership. And, why not? The text says, “they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he
was a disciple.” In other words, they believed that Saul was not a Christian. As v. 27 reveals, Barnabas
“declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had
preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.” Barnabas set forth the evidences of why Saul should
be incorporated into the fellowship of the church in Jerusalem. Now, is there not a tremendously important
principle of truth that we gather from this episode? Did you know that it is often the case that when
someone desires to place membership with a local congregation that the leadership of that local
congregation never even question whether or not they are NT Christians; it is either taken for granted or
they simply accept their word. Brethren, this is as dangerous as anything could be in the church, for they
may not even be NT Christians even though they claim to be. If a person from a denominational body wants
to place membership with the church of Christ, they would more than likely claim that they are a Christian.
It is sad beyond belief that no questioning of any kind is made. Not so with the church in Jerusalem; they
were not about to just take Saul’s word for it. Barnabas set forth the evidences of such. When a person
desires to place membership with a local congregation, here are some essential questions that ought to be
asked first and foremost:
1.) Are you a Christian?
2.) What did you do to become a Christian?
3.) Why were you baptized?
But, this doesn’t end the matter as far as gathering other important information from would-be new
members. Paul penned this in Gal. 2:9 — “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars,
perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we
should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.” This verse has to do with James, Peter, and John
recognizing Paul as a true apostle of Christ. Lord willing next week, we will explore the importance of this
passage as it relates to incorporating new members into the body of Christ.
MR. WEBSTER WOULD BE OUTRAGED!
Noah Webster lived from 1758 to 1843. Mr. Webster was a genius, having learned some 26 languages. In
1828, Mr. Webster published An American Dictionary of the English Language. Of course, this dictionary
has gone through many updates and revisions.
In 1828, “marriage” was defined as
the act of uniting a man and woman for life; wedlock; the legal union of a man and woman for life; Marriage is a contract both civil
and religious, by which the parties agree to live together in mutual affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them. Marriage
was instituted by God himself for the purpose of preventing the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, for promoting domestic
felicity, and for securing the maintenance and education of children.
The dictionary then references Heb. 13:4, Matt. 22, and Rev. 19.
Throughout Webster’s existence, marriage has always been defined as a contract between a man and
woman. The 1913 edition defines marriage as this and gives references to the Bible. The 1992 dictionary
also defines marriage as a contract between a man and a woman. But, now it is different. The new edition
of Merriam-Webster’s dictionary includes “same-sex.” In addition to defining marriage as a contract
between a husband and a wife, it further states, “the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a
relationship like that of a traditional marriage.” I’m sure Mr. Webster is spinning in his grave.