Membership

at our church

As early as the Second Century, the Christian church had established teachings to prepare new converts for the life in the church. The doctrinal instructions lasted from three months to three years and were designed as a safeguard to protect the church from wolves in sheep's clothing. These new disciples were expected to live out the teaching of the scriptures and exemplify a godly lifestyle before they were admitted into the fellowship of the church.

At St. Thomas' Church we believe it is a sacred and important decision for a person to make the confession, "I am a Christian." It is equally as important to declare, "This is my church where the Lord has planted me." Relationships, worked out in the context of the local church, validate the reality of our faith.

This part of the Website will be expanded considerable, including a members' only area where the tools to assist your walk in faith will be found.

 

Question: "Why is church membership important?"

Answer: The universal Church—the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5)—is composed of all true believers in Christ, but there is nothing in the Bible about “membership” in a local church assembly. As believers, we have our names written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 20:12), which is the only “membership roll” spoken of in Scripture.

The New Testament churches apparently had no need of formal membership, relying instead on God to gather together believers in a local body. “And the Lord added to them day by day those that were being saved” (Acts 2:47). This verse indicates that salvation was a prerequisite for being “added” to the church. Churches today who require salvation before membership are simply following the biblical model. See also 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.

Although there is no scriptural mandate for church membership, there is certainly nothing to prohibit it. Church membership is a way of officially identifying oneself with a local body of believers. Church membership is a statement that a Christian is in agreement with that local church and is willing to be identified as a representative of it. Church membership is also valuable for organizational purposes and a good way of determining who is allowed to vote on important church decisions and/or who is involved in official church positions and functions. Church membership is not required of Christians. It is simply a way of saying, "I am a Christian and I believe St. Thomas' Church is a good church."