Nine Marks of a Healthy Church By Mark Dever – Marks 6 & 7 Reflection:
What is biblical church membership?
Mark Dever provides a list of the duties of church members and Christians in general that I think to paint a pretty good picture of Biblical church membership.
Beginning on page 159:
- Church members, like Christians, are to be baptized and to regularly attend the Lord’s Table.
- We are to hear God’s Word and to obey it.
- We are to regularly fellowship together for mutual edification.
- We are to love God, one another, and those outside our fellowship, and we are to evidence the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22–23).
- The most fundamental duty Christians have in relation to the congregation is the duty to regularly attend gatherings of the congregation (see Heb. 10:25; cf. Ps. 84:4, 10; Acts 2:42).
- As followers of Jesus Christ, Christians are obliged to love one another (John 13:34–35; 15:12–17; Rom. 12:9–10; 13:8–10; Gal. 5:14; 6:10; Eph. 1:15; 1 Pet. 1:22; 2:17; 3:8; 4:8; 1 John 3:16; 4:7–12; cf. Ps. 133).
- Church members are also obliged to seek peace and unity within their congregation (Rom. 12:16; 14:19; 1 Cor. 13:7; 2 Cor. 12:20; Eph. 4:3–6; Phil. 2:3; 1 Thess. 5:13; 2 Thess. 3:11; James 3:18; 4:11).
- The desire for peace and unity should follow naturally from the obligation to love (Rom. 15:6; 1 Cor. 1:10–11; Eph. 4:5, 13; Phil. 2:2; cf. Zeph. 3:9).
- Strife should be actively avoided (Prov. 17:14; Matt. 5:9; 1 Cor. 10:32; 11:16; 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil. 2:1–3).
- Love is expressed and unity is cultivated when church members actively sympathize with one another. As Paul exhorts the congregation in Rome, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Rom. 12:15; cf. Job 2:11; Isa. 63:9; 1 Cor. 12:26; Gal. 6:2; 1 Thess. 5:14; Heb. 4:15; 12:3).
- To care for one another physically and spiritually (Matt. 25:40; John 12:8; Acts 15:36; Rom. 12:13; 15:26; 1 Cor. 16:1–2; Gal. 2:10; 6:10; Heb. 13:16; James 1:27; 1 John 3:17; Deut. 15:7–8, 11)
- To watch over one another and hold one another accountable (Rom. 15:14; Gal. 6:1–2; Phil. 2:3–4; 2 Thess. 3:15; Heb. 12:15; cf. Lev. 19:17; Ps. 141:5)
- To work to edify one another (1 Cor. 14:12–26; Eph. 2:21–22; 4:12–29; 1 Thess. 5:11; 1 Pet. 4:10; 2 Pet. 3:18)
- To bear with one another (Matt. 18:21–22; Mark 11:25; Rom. 15:1; Gal. 6:2; Col. 3:12), including not suing one another (1 Cor. 6:1–7)
- To pray for one another (Eph. 6:18; James 5:16)
- To keep away from those who would destroy the church (Rom. 16:17; 1 Tim. 6:3–5; Titus 3:10; 2 John 10–11)
- To reject evaluating people by worldly standards (Matt. 20:26–27; Rom. 12:10–16; James 2:1–13
- To contend together for the gospel (Phil. 1:27; Jude 3)
- To be examples to one another (Phil. 2:1–18)
- Leaders in the church should be respected, held in the highest regard, and honored (Phil. 2:29; 1 Thess. 5:12–13).
- Church members should remember their leaders and imitate their life and faith (1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; Phil. 3:17; Heb. 13:7).
- And church members should give themselves both to praying for their ministers and to assisting them in every way they can (Eph. 6:18–20; Col. 4:3–4; 2 Thess. 3:1; Heb. 13:18–19).
In addition to this list, the overarching theme that I see in this chapter is that the church needs to hold members accountable to the responsibilities we see in this list. That is, the responsibilities we see in scripture. If a person cannot live up to church membership duties, as laid out by scripture, then that person should not be allowed membership in the church.
And yes, this promotes a level of exclusivity that may not necessarily be popular in today’s culture. But the church isn’t called to popularity; the church is called to spread the gospel.
Why does Mark Dever include church membership as one of the nine marks of a healthy church?
The reason church membership is so important to the health of the church is that we, as members, represent the church to the rest of the world. If we, as members, don’t accurately represent the church, and Christ, to the rest of the world, then the world gets a skewed picture of what the church is and who Christ is. This representation can not only be damaging to the church but the gospel message as well.
If we don’t stress the importance of biblical church membership, then we don’t stress the importance of the Bible. If we allow watered-down church membership, then the next logical step is a watered-down gospel.
What is the purpose of church discipline?
Ultimately, the purpose of church discipline is to protect and purify the church. Discipline should expose sin within the body, it should aim to correct the offender and warn others, and it should lead to growth and repentance. In all of this, the church, and its members, are strengthened and kept pure.
What is the biblical paradigm for church discipline?
- Expose the sin privately (Matthew 18:15)
- Attempt reconciliation with the aid of one or two other members of the church (Matthew 18:16)
- Bring the matter before the church (Matthew 18:17)
- Exclusion (Matthew 18:17)
- Restoration following repentance (2 Corinthians 2:6-8)