We’ve been through many seasons in the Church when the need for organization, structure, and commitment has been devalued.

But even a surface-level look at the Scriptures proves their value to our great God. From the beginning of creation in Genesis, we see that God favors order and structure.

And ever since “in the beginning,” God has been calling people into a place of commitment to Himself and His Church.

The Great Commission, which our Savior has charged us with, can only be accomplished through the commitment of Church membership. Let’s get a fresh perspective on that.

By assigning a high value to church membership, many leaders have divinely aided the effectiveness of their mission.

By God’s grace, they have helped create a win-win situation. Church membership is a presumed covenant within the New Testament. As such, it is clear that some responsibilities and privileges come with this committed relationship.

Let me explain a little about the local church I serve.

As a pastor, I carefully handle the local church membership process. I do not simply open the doors for people to step forward and join the church. We have a monthly Membership Matters Class where individuals are taken through our Church Membership Agreement. In this one-session class, we do our best to ensure the individual understands the Gospel and is a committed believer.

Attendees also learn about our mission, vision, and various ministries. And without apology, our membership covenant asks Christians to commit to these four items. 1) Live a respectable Christian life. 2) Do not gossip about other church members, leaders, and ministers. 3) Agree to support their church with regular attendance and cover the ministries in prayer. 4) Agree to support their church financially.

We need to know and believe the individual is redeemed and living like a saved person because this new member becomes essential to helping us fulfill our mission to reach others with the message of Jesus Christ. Those committed to the local church will likely stay on board with our mission to love people, grow Christians, and multiply leaders.

What are the real benefits of individual believers belonging to and living as responsible members of their local church?

It’s a matter of covenanted association, and the benefits are readily seen with the help of these four principles: encouragement, empowerment, investment, and accountability.

Blessed encouragement is received through fellowship in various settings. Various ministers and members encourage one another within the local church. Such horizontal encouragement comes from one another during shared group event participation.

Empowerment takes place when submission to divinely appointed authority takes place. Such vertical empowerment comes from the corporate anointing of the local church and her leadership. This empowerment enables our ministers and members to be more and do more for our Lord as we work towards His Great Commandment and Great Commission.

Responsible church members are invested in broad-based ministry opportunities through participation in established programs. A significant investment takes place when fellowship on the corporate level is experienced. At this level, our members and ministers share their time, talents, and treasures with the local church.

Biblical accountability is a principled reason an individual believer becomes a local church member. When in submission to divinely appointed authority on the personal level, our members are accountable for doctrine and behavior. We have agreed to an established standard of faith and practice.

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I’ll end with this thought. As local church members, Christ-followers have been granted great responsibility and privileges within the Kingdom of God.

Let’s highly esteem the connection between membership and mission. In reality, it’s a win-win situation!