What is «biblical membership in a local church»?

«Biblical membership in a local church» means four things:

1. Church members must be true Christians. In the book of Acts, those who believed in the Gospel were added to the church (Acts 2:41, 47). Paul’s letters to the churches are addressed to Christians (Rom. 1:7, 1 Cor. 1:2). Although no church can determine 100 percent who is a true Christian and who is not, each church should accept into membership only those who sincerely profess faith in Christ. Therefore, church membership is an important part of the public witness of faith and the believer’s life in community.
2. Church members should attend church meetings and events regularly. Church membership helps to oversee the lives of its members. If someone does not attend church regularly, the church has no way of knowing how that person’s life is going, whether they have spiritual difficulties or needs, or whether they need pastoral care. Regular church attendance provides the faithful with support, mentoring, and the opportunity for spiritual growth in community.
3. Members view the church as a primary place for fellowship and service. «"I am a member of the First Presbyterian Church, but my real ministry is…» is an unbiblical way to begin a sentence. The New Testament is replete with «one another» commands that are written for members of local churches. This does not mean that Christians should not fulfill these commands among Christians from other churches when the opportunity arises. However, the New Testament does require that Christians fulfill these commands primarily among the specific group to which they are accountable (e.g., 1 Cor. 12).
4. Church members have certain biblical privileges and responsibilities. Members of a local church have the right to participate in the Lord's Supper. They also have the responsibility to:
   • Pray for the church.
   • To be in open relationships with other church members, caring, encouraging, rebuking, teaching, and learning from one another (Eph. 4:15-16).
   • Submit to the leadership and teachings of the church (Heb. 13:17).
   • Promote unity in the body (Eph. 4:3).
   • Financially support the ministry of the church (Gal. 6:6).
   • Use spiritual gifts to strengthen the body as much as possible (1 Cor. 12:7).