In 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, Paul instructs these two men about elders and deacons. Paul is concerned for there to be a structure in the church, formally applied, in which the church can be properly cared for and managed. As I was thinking through the calling and qualifications of elders and then the qualifications for the office of deacons, I was yet again convicted by the necessity of formally knowing and understanding the entire church.
We should take note of many Scriptures that require the entire congregation to be responsible for essential matters in the life of the church. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul rebukes the Corinthian church for not taking responsibility for the grievous sin in their midst. The church ought to be very serious about holiness. When a serious sin is overlooked, it affects the entire church. Paul then says to Corinth, “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. "Purge the evil person from among you." (1 Corinthians 5:12-13). We ought to take this verse very seriously. If the church is to protect holiness among the body of Christ, we must not be frivolous about knowing who we are and how we as a whole congregation counts who is in and who is not.
In matters of church discipline, the church is the final ground to dismiss an unrepentant sinner from among them (Matthew 18). In 2 Corinthians 2:6, Paul talks about a discipline within the church that has already taken place and he talks of it being brought about by the “majority.” For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough. The seriousness here is seen that church discipline can only happen in a church that is fully aware and formally knows who is in to clearly show who is out.
As we think of doctrine, Paul instructs Timothy that it is the entire church that is given responsibility for being the pillar and buttress of truth. 1Timothy 3:15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Surely if the responsibility is the hands of the church to uphold doctrine, the church must be serious about knowing that it is in the hands of those we know who truly believe biblical and gospel doctrine.
These are just a few examples of why the church must be serious about formally knowing who we are in the responsibility that Christ has given us. In this responsibility, Christ has also given elders to shepherd and teach and guide and be an example in leading in the responsibilities of the whole church. He has given deacons to take care of the management of ministry as the church lives to please Christ and reach the world.
There are many who see little importance in the need for a formal identification of the church in membership. It seems to me that as elders lead, deacons manage, and the whole church takes responsibility as a final accountability, it would be negligent for us not to treat the identification of the body of Christ with anything other than utmost care. When elders are to be formally known to the church for a partnership designed by God in leadership and submission, how is that supposed to work without a formal acknowledgement of the body being led?
When we read in Hebrews 13:17 that the church is to let its elders rule with joy, it encourages me to make a plea to those in our body who attend and know Jesus but have not become members. Please allow our elders to take the leadership of our church family seriously and joyfully by helping us formally protect those who we must know and care for and serve. Please help us joyfully lead us all in the huge responsibility we all have.
A way of doing that is by taking your membership in the church as seriously as those who are called to the offices of elders and deacons. In other words, if you are not yet, please let us formalize your membership.