Dever: How can Christians fulfill these responsibilities if they do not know who are, and who are not, members of their congregation?

As members of local congregations,

we are called to be kind, compassionate and forgiving (Eph 4:32; Col 3:13).
We are not to grumble against one another (Jas 5:9) but rather are to bear with one another (Eph 4:2), live in harmony (Rom 12:16), and so be united (Matt 12:25; John 17:21,23; 1 Cor 1:10).
We are to honor one another, be devoted to one another (Rom 12:10), and be humble to one another (1 Pet 5:5).
We are to confess our sins to one another (Jas 5:16), serve one another (Gal 5:13), and pray for one another (Jas 5:16).
We are to have an equal concern for each member (1 Cor 12:25) regardless of status or wealth (Jas 2:1–4). As members of the local church, we are called to be hospitable to one another in our homes (1 Pet 4:9) and meet together regularly in our assemblies (Heb 10:25).
We are to meet with the express purpose of edifying one another (Heb 10:25; 1 Cor 14:26; 1 Thess 5:11) and encouraging one another (1 Thess 5:11; Heb 3:13).
We are called to speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph 5:19) and take Communion together (1 Cor 11:33).
We are called to instruct one another (Rom 15:14), teach and admonish one another (Col 3:16), confront one another over unrepentant sin (Matt 18:15–16), and fulfill the difficult task of participating in the congregation's discipline, including admission to membership (2 Cor 2:6–8) and putting an unrepentant sinner out of the church (Matt 18:17; 1 Cor 5).

How can Christians fulfill these responsibilities if they do not know who are, and who are not, members of their congregation?

Christians normally cannot obey these commands as they are intended without obeying them in the context of the local congregation to which they are committed. Indeed, resolving to fulfill these commands with a defined body of people, and making that resolution known, is the heart of church membership.

Hammett, J. S., & Merkle, B. (2012). Those who must give an account: a study of church membership and church discipline. Nashville: B&H.

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