What are local churches? Who are really members?

The Holy Scriptures speak not only of the one Holy Christian Church which is made up of all believers in Christ, they also speak of local churches or congregations of believers. And so we consider the questions: What are local churches? Who are really members?

We see that there are also local churches from the teaching of the Bible. The apostle Paul wrote "unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints" (1 Corinthians 1:2); "unto the churches of Galatia" (Galatians 1:2); and "unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 1:1). Jesus directed the apostle John to write "unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea" (Revelation 1:11).

God's Word also commands believers in Christ, in every locality, to gather together with other faithful Christians and form congregations where they may establish the public ministry and mutually care for and encourage their fellow believers in the true and saving faith. In Matthew 28:18-20, we read: "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

The Bible says: "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:19-25).

We are also commanded: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16; cf. Ephesians 4:1-16).

And, we have the example of the New Testament believers in the church at Jerusalem who "continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42).

That the ministry of the Word is to be established in local congregations, we also see from Scripture: "And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed" (Acts 14:23); "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" (Acts 20:28). Titus was also told by the apostle Paul: "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: if any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers" (Titus 1:5-9; cf. 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Jeremiah 23:3-4).

Jesus also, when instructing His disciples about how to deal with those who are overcome by faults, commanded as the final step to be taken: "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican" (Matthew 18:17). Since it would be impossible to take such a matter to the entire church made up of all believers in Christ, Jesus is commanding such matters be taken to the local church or the assembly of believers in a certain locality or place.

Though the Bible speaks of one Church, made up of all true believers, and of local churches, there are not two kinds of churches; for even in the local churches, only the believers are truly members of Christ's Church in that place (1 Corinthians 1:2; Romans 1:7).

On the Last Day, the unbelieving and hypocrites who are outwardly connected with Christ's Church (or churches) in this world will be separated from the believing and cast into the fires of hell (Cf. Jesus' parables in Matthew 13:24-43, 47-50).

Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer and also the pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Rogers. He may be contacted by email at [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author.