"What Do You Mean Place Membership?"
When a family begins to consistently attend a local congregation, one of the first things which arise in the minds of most people is, "Are they going to place membership?" From time to time I hear comments made about "placing membership," and sometimes I am asked what I think about it.
I have always encouraged people when they move into a community where I preach, or if they are leaving and going to another area, to immediately become an active part of the Lord's work, and to let it be known that they would like to consider themselves as a part of a specific congregation - a simple and expeditious way is to "place membership," or "to identify" with the local congregation.
When they do this as soon as they can, there is less chance that they might be tempted to become spasmodic in their attendance. Also, it informs the local congregation that they have moved into the community and lets the elders know that they are anxious to become identified with, and begin work in, the local congregation.
Sometimes I have heard the following thought presented, "Since I am a member of the church of Christ, there is no need to place membership." Without doubt all understand that when a person becomes a New Testament Christian, he is a member of the church in the universal sense. Regardless of where they might live, they are still members of the body of Christ and entitled to all attendant blessings therein. However, we are all aware that the Bible not only recognizes the church universal, but also speaks of it in the local sense. Serving as elders here are three men. Everything pertaining to the work of an elder is their responsibility. But all will readily agree that their responsibility and authority to function as elders exists only here and no other place. Do other congregations recognize them as elders in the Lord's church? Absolutely! But do not all people understand that their authority and responsibility, as elders, extends only to the Curry Street congregation?
We certainly do not expect the deacons of sister congregations in this area to do the work of a deacon here at Curry Street. Are they not Christians? Are they not deacons in the Lord's church? Indeed they are, but their responsibility as a deacon is applicable only to the Curry Street congregation.
Paul addressed one of his prison epistles to "...all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons" (Philippians 1:1). Could the bishops (elders) at Philippi go to Ephesus and there function as an elder in Ephesus based entirely upon the fact that they were elders at Philippi? Of course not! Likewise, the same could be said of the Philippian deacons, as they serve in the capacity as deacons. Why not? Are they not New Testament Christians? Indeed they were. Were they not members of the Lord's church? Without doubt. Why could these same elders and deacons not be considered as serving in the same capacity at Ephesus while they attended regularly at Philippi? Simply because of the distinction between our obligations to the local congregation and the church universal. Please remember that Paul told the Christians in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 12:27, "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular (individually, tlb)."
Paul sets forth the scriptural principle of being identified with a local group when "...he assayed to join himself to the disciples" (Acts 9:26). The exact manner and mode of this attempt is not stated in such a manner as to set forth an example as to "how" such was done, only that it was done.
However, in a present day situation, when a person or persons desire to identify with a congregation, I would suggest that it is best for them to come forward at the invitation or be asked to stand. Why? Simply as a matter of expediency. There is no easier way for the congregation as a whole to identify the person/persons who desire to be a part of that local assembly. All too often, when only a name is read, the vast majority of the people do not have a "face" to put with that name.
On the other hand, some people just do not want to feel "tied down" to any specific group. Their preference is to "float" from one congregation to another, coming and going as they please. Thus, when something is said or done which they do not like, they "float" to another congregation, and then to a third, and a fourth, etc. Should anyone speak to them about this, their first response is, "I am not a member of 'your' congregation," which simply means that they have now "floated" to another group and now consider themselves as members there - of course, without ever informing anyone of such.
Placing membership? It is merely a matter of expediency. It is a good way, a fast way, an expedient way to do something that all people should be willing to do - to let it be known that they desire to work and worship with a local congregation and to be under the oversight of the elders.
From Our Archives, 1988
By Tom Bright