Baptism and Church Membership
The universal, invisible Holy Christian Church, also called “the communion of saints”, consists of all those who through faith in Jesus Christ have been redeemed by Him. This includes Christians of every kind and from every nation, Christians who are presently alive, and also those who died long ago. The first are said to be members of the “Church Militant”, while the second are members of the “Church Triumphant”. This Universal Church is said to be “invisible” because only God can see its true size and scope. The primary visible manifestation of the universal Holy Christian Church is the local congregation, a gathering of believers around the Word of God. First Lutheran Church is a local congregation.
There can be no membership in the Holy Christian Church without Baptism, nor can there be membership in a local congregation such as First Lutheran either. If an unbaptized person desires to be a member of this or any other congregation, he or she must first be baptized. Conversely, if a person is already baptized, then they are already joined to the Holy Christian Church and ought also already be a functioning member of a local congregation such as First Lutheran Church. Put another way, all believers should be baptized, and all believers should be functional members of a real, live local congregation somewhere.
Baptism is a promise from God, and the sacramental starting point for the Christian life. It is the promise of the forgiveness of sins and salvation to all who receive it. To those who believe in what is promised in baptism, it also delivers the Holy Spirit, and joins them to the Holy Christian Church, which is the Body of Christ. This “joining” to the Holy Christian Church is the most basic meaning behind the concept of “church membership”. That is, through Baptism, a person becomes a “member”, like an arm or a leg, of the Body of Christ. Joining a church is not like joining a club or other voluntary association of like-minded people. It more closely resembles being born into a family, with Christ Himself as the head.
First Lutheran Church, as a part of the body of Christ, is organized primarily for its members, so that they may know Jesus Christ and the life God has given them by faith, and may serve Him as His disciples until they die. To do this, the congregation provides the Word of God to it’s members through Baptism, catechesis (that is, instruction in the basics of the Christian faith), preaching, teaching, and the Lord’s Supper. It also provides for the pastoral care of its members and for many opportunities for fellowship with other Christians. For their part, the members of the congregation make full use of the Word of God by regular attendance at Divine Services, regular reception of the Lord’s Supper, and receiving adequate instruction in the Christian faith (catechesis).
So this is the big picture: the congregation is accountable to Christ Himself to provide its members with the Word of God in all its forms, with pastoral care, and with a Church family. Meanwhile, the members are willingly accountable to the Word of God and to the pastoral ministry and to their fellow members at First as a fundamental part of their obligation to the Kingdom.
Go to “Congregational Obligations to its Members“
Go to “Member Obligations“