Religion, Can anyone support the reason for church membership..?

Question

Why do Religious groups wish us to become a part of their membership? Are we not all one body in Christ?
I am looking for Biblical support!
Thanks

I see some clarification needed here.
The question isn't Do I need God? Yes we all do!!
The question is Why do I need to sign a paper saying that I am committed to the Baptist church or Pentecostal or United...
I know we need to come together in groups, but that has nothing to do with membership..

Answer 1

Scripture does not require membership in the man made sense of the word in a local "church". All christians are automatically members of the Church. If Jesus accepts you simply by following Him. who are we to add another layer of
"membership" to that?

Local churches should not require membership, except for that required by law to exist.

Some references: Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Acts 6:1-6; Ephesians 5:25-27; 1 Timothy 3:1-13;

Answer 2

The universal Church—the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5)—is composed of all true believers in Christ. Non-believers are not part of the Body of Christ; therefore, it would seem that God keeps a “membership list” of who is in the Church. We see just such a list in Revelation 20:12, the Lamb’s book of life. If the universal Church has a “membership roll” in heaven, it would be appropriate for local churches to maintain a list of members on earth.

“And the Lord added to them day by day those that were being saved” (Acts 2:47). This verse indicates that salvation is 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.

Membership in the local church is strongly implied in Paul’s instructions to the Corinthians to “put away from among yourselves that wicked person” (1 Corinthians 5:13). The preceding verse speaks of those “without” and “within” the local church. Such language is meaningless without a clearly defined group of members.

Why is church membership important? Church membership is a way of officially identifying yourself with a local body of believers. Church membership is a statement that you are in agreement with that local church and are a representative of it. Church membership is also a good way of determining who is allowed to vote on important church decisions and/or who is involved in official church positions / functions. Church membership is not required of Christians. It is simply a way of saying, "I am a Christian and I believe '...' church is a good church."

Answer 3

A person should be religious, not religion. Religion, like everything else of this world, has been somewhat corrupted by satan. Religions are made up of mostely religious people who do not agree on all the aspects of the Bible and the Will of God. Our sinful nature sometimes keeps us from standing as one, like Jesus wanted. Nevertheless, it is good for believers to congregate in fellowship with one another because in this world, it is somewhat difficult to be completely good. It helps to lift one another up, to learn together and to live as sinlessly as possible.

Answer 4

Hebrews 10:24, 25 says: "And let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, 25 not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near."

It's important to associate closely with fellow Christians. The Bible makes it clear that first-century Christians met in congregations for the purposes mentioned above. The books of the Bible Romans through to Thessalonians were written to congregations of Christians.

Answer 5

Community Fellowship

Answer 6

If you are a real believer in Christ, yes.
Membership, from my understanding, is in the local church. Because "church" means the "assembled together".
Now I happen to be a pastor in a Baptist church. If you come to my church I don't particularly care if you come from a Pentecostal, Mennonite or Brethren church. You are welcome. And if you choose to stay with us, and are willing to work with us, you are welcome to become a member of our local church. If you move away to another town where there is also a Baptist church, you are not automatically a member there. You have to choose to be a member.
Being a member just means that you recognize that local church as the one you are adhering to and working with. As a Baptist missionary in Europe for a number of years, I was a member of two different denominations at different times. It depended who I chose to work with in different areas I was living in at the time.
Being a member also means that the local church recognizes you as being associated with them.
I realize not all denominations work that way. Some have you be a member of their whole denomination, with the expectation that if you change towns you are automatically a member of that denomination and not another. I personally am not all that comfortable with that method.

Answer 7

We are the body of Christ and are called to be in fellowship with other beleivers......in the bible it says that "where two or three gather in my name, I will be there also." I'm paraphrasing because I can't remember the verse

Check out blueletterbible.org

You can search the bible by subject.....all different translations....it's a great resouce for biblical research

Good luck and God bless.

Answer 8

There is no "biblical support" for joining one church or another. My church has no membership log. God adds you to His church if you have a love for the truth and seek His will.

Answer 9

Please read 1 Corinthians 1

Father K said, quoting the Creed that the Church is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.

"One" refers to the fact that Christ created only one Church of which all Christians belong according to their Baptism. Thus, Protestants have an imperfect union with Christ's Church.

"Holy" refers to the Church's example and testimony to the world.

"Catholic" refers to the fact that it seeks to be inclusive instead of exclusive and invites all to come to faith in Christ.

"Apostolic" refers to the fact, as St. Ignatius said, that the Church can be recognized as that which forms around the bishop through apostolic succession.

As St. Paul said to the Corinthians in his first epistle, divisions are the work of man and unity is the work of God. Jesus' last prayer in the garden before He was crucified is that we all be one and we are through the Church established by He and the disciples.

In Christ

Answer 10

In my church you have to make a confession that you believe Christ is Lord and died for your sins and that God resurected Him, so believe in God the Father, Son and Holy spirit is important before you can become a member. Otherwise heaven knows what kind of heresy will come into the church. So we are all member of Christ in one body.