Church Membership

At Mercy Hill, we believe church membership is important. This is not only the direct teaching of the Bible, in that the early church kept track of those who were saved in each city (cf. Acts 2:41; 42-27; 4:32-37; 6:1-7); but the notion of “membership” is embedded in several non- negotiable biblical concepts in both the Old and New Testaments. These concepts include (1) the body of Christ has members; (2) a flock with a shepherd has members; (3) a chosen people has members; (4) the Lamb’s Book of Life has ‘members.’

We also believe at Mercy Hill that the abuse of a thing does not invalidate that thing. So, just because people speed doesn’t mean you don’t need speed limits. We recognize that churches have abused “church membership” in various ways (by treating it lightly, as a mere tradition, or not at all; or by acting in heavy-handed or controlling ways regarding the membership of a church). But this bad behavior, or mistreatment of a precious biblical truth calls not for its abolishment, but its recovery.

Furthermore, we do believe that the downgrade of church membership in these individualistic times points to a cultural sin of individualism, autonomy, and isolationism. It wouldn’t be too far from the mark if we were to say that today, as in the days of the judges, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).

At Mercy Hill, we have a number of specific theological beliefs. These beliefs are summarized in a summary of our doctrinal views called the Westminster Confession of Faith. While our pastors and elders are required to subscribe to this document as a whole, in its system of doctrine that it contains, individual members of Mercy Hill are only required to answer in the affirmative five basic membership questions. Here is a short paraphrase of those questions:

  1. Do you believe you’re a sinner who cannot save yourself?

  2. Do you believe that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation?

  3. Do you desire to follow Jesus as a disciple?

  4. Will you support this church to the best of your ability?

  5. Will you submit to the leadership of this church?

In other words, we uphold and encourage for our membership what we believe is basic Christianity, or a simple Christian profession of faith.