Why Membership Enables Service in the Church

Service is a vital for being part of a local community. It shows that you are giving, committed and involved. It benefits you directly in untold ways as well. Now say you wanted to work with children at a library club. What would be required? Do you like children and reading? (Can you read well?) Do you have any experience? Are you a local resident? You’d certainly need a police check since you’d be working with a vulnerable group. Let alone standing for public office or joining the military, there are requirements for service.[1]

Service is a vital part of Christian discipleship. Faith isn’t static, it’s an action. We express it through holy living and service in the local church. Joy attends to the servant who reflects the serving nature of their Master, for it is “better to give than receive.” (Acts 20:35; Phil 2:6–8).  Every member is meant to have a ministry to serve in (1 Cor 12:1).

But to be able to serve in the local church there is a similar check: are you a Christian? Do you have a credible testimony of conversion? Have you been baptized by immersion? Do you show the fruit of faith? Do you agree with our Statement of Faith? What gifts do you have? Christianity, while personal, is not private; it is meant to be lived out corporately. You cannot have the bee without the hive, and bees serve the hive! Our faith is expressed and the local church authoritatively discerns it through membership (Mt 16:18, 18:18). Membership is how we know who represents Jesus as part of Markdale Baptist Church. As such, membership is the ordinary pathway to service in the local church.[2] (Handbook 7.1; 13.3.5 and 13.4.1.3).

This should not surprise; just as police checks ensure the safety and success of library programs, the local church, as Christ’s representative body on earth, warrants equal care. Being a member ensures those involved in ministry are qualified to serve as Christians, are committed, teach the same doctrine and practice, are held accountable, exemplify the ‘one anothers’ and are united in purpose. To be a member is not only to aid your assurance but enable one to fulfil their call to service as a follower of Christ.

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[1] Another illustration is marriage. To enjoy the legal and spiritual blessings and privileges of marriage you must get married!

[2] Exceptions might include when we ask someone we believe to be a believer to help in a one off capacity (or an unbeliever in appropriate settings) or when we partner with other likeminded churches and their members.