The Weekly Perspective
by Burke Shade, Associate Pastor
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!