“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ…shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly…not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock… Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another…” (1 Peter 5.1-5).

Church membership really is an exercise in humility and like-mindedness.

For the elders (elder means “old guy” in both Hebrew and Greek), they have to humbly accept the sheep that God gives them, and willingly exercise oversight over those sheep; not under compulsion but as a gift, the gift of eternal souls being shepherded unto eternal life. Peter says they can’t bully the sheep into heaven, but that the elders have to be examples to the sheep. In humility they can’t push them away, but have to consider that they, too, are sheep, and must shepherd as they would want to be shepherded. That’s like-mindedness for those under your care. Peter makes it also clear the shepherding is to be done eagerly unto Christ, as it is God’s flock, without any “fleecing” of the sheep for shameful gain. Those in authority often use their power to ascribe further power or possessions for themselves; but Peter says “no” to such malarkey. The “gain” is to the sheep.

For the members, who are younger than the “old guys,” they are told to be subject to the old guys, clothing themselves with humility. So “might is not right” for youth with respect to subjection to the leaders; but a refusal to use that youthfulness and strength while listening and following the wisdom of those who have traveled the paths ahead many times over. The youth learn from the old guys how to navigate the future with holiness, watching and following their example.

People often ask, “Is there a compelling reason for church membership presented in the Bible?” Of course there is!

In the book of Numbers, God knows exactly who his sheep are, because he counts them twice: once after the Red Sea, and then just before entering the Holy Land, after the older, rebellious generation has died off. He knows who He is responsible for, and they know who to obey.

Same thing after the exile: 1 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah all have lists of those who came back.

Jesus also says that he knows his sheep, and that they know his voice. Since he appoints men in the church to lead his church and keep the keys of the kingdom

in Matthew 16, it only makes sense that they also are to know who they are responsible for, and for those cared for to know the voices of their leaders.

Hebrews 13:17 provides the clearest compelling argument for membership in a local congregation: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account…” The individuals have to know the names of the men who rule over them, as one cannot obey a nebulous or undefined leadership. Likewise, a body of elders cannot render an account to God for an undefined membership either!

So this verse (see also Hebrews 13:7 and 1 Peter 5:1–5) requires two lists of names—a list of the elders and a list of the members! We’re not talking about some impressionist painting of fuzzy sheep and shepherds on a distant hillside while working with smudgy brushes!

For some reason, the skeletons all around my neighborhood (most are bleached white, though a few are fluorescent orange and green!) never seem to make it out of the ground. They are still “buried.” Often they are surrounded by signs that read “No one leaves!” or “No one gets out!” Definitely signs of the times: we fear death, it’s scary, but we die and that’s it. In the grave and don’t leave. How sad!

But for the Christian gospel, death is a whole other thing! Why? Because Jesus incorporated death into life. Christian faith means faith in a God who makes death into a positive feature of life. “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades” (Revelation 1:17b-18). By being the “first Man,” Jesus established the possibility of a different stance toward suffering and death. Life after the cross, and life in light of the cross, is a life in which death never has the final word, but where death is the means and path toward new, more expansive resurrection life. “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:10-11).

Faith in the God of the future (“I am alive forevermore”), who is also revealed in the cross, enables us to die not only to all the false gods out there in the world, but even to ourselves day after day, and move to the future. Death to our selfish selves, to our sins, to our ungodly aspirations, and even wrecked situations we find ourselves in so much, means moving forward in the resurrection life of Jesus. The Christian life is one of daily death and resurrection, and because of Jesus, death has paradoxically become the key to everlasting life. Even abundant life!

That’s something you really need to share with the owners of those skeletons!