It is a privilege to be a professing member of a local congregation bearing testimony to the Person of Christ, the claims of the gospel and the demands of godly living. But, what are the privileges enjoyed by members of a local congregation?

(1) They enjoy the advantages of the true worship of God in the services of the Church. This is a ‘general’ point. We sometimes call these the means of grace. They are not to be taken lightly. They are not to be formalised. We are never to go through the motions of worship acts. It is a privilege to have a faithful Bible-believing and gospel-holding Church. It is a privilege to have the regular Lord’s day ministry to feed your souls. The worship of God is a primary end of our existence. The Church must be faithful to Christ and the doctrine of the word. It is a privilege to worship the Lord with a good conscience together with other like-minded souls. Whatever benefits non-professing people may receive in the worship services, these are to be treasured as privileges by Church members and seen to be such! It is a privilege to be taught what we are to know concerning God and what duties He requires of us, and that is a task of the Church in the world.

(2) They enjoy the privilege of partaking of the sacraments. The Shorter Catechism is clear on the nature of a sacrament: “a sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein by sensible signs, Christ and the benefits of the new covenant are represented, sealed, and applied to believers” (Answer 92). The sacraments are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. By means of the sacraments God teaches certain truths and bestows certain blessings. Baptism is applied to adults professing faith in Christ having not been baptised as infants (Acts 2:41), and to the children of those who profess faith in Christ and obedience to Him (Larger Catechism 166 & Shorter Catechism 95). Likewise, the Lord’s Supper is a blessed means of grace for those professing souls exercised in receiving it (1 Corinthians 11:23-34).

(3) They enjoy the privilege of practical support of the work and ministry of the Church. It is a privilege to give to the Church of our substance, and to do so ‘heartily,’ for the Lord loves a cheerful giver. This is the ‘tithing’ principle. No doubt there is a duty here, something to recognise this as a privilege (Luke 8:3; 1 Corinthians 16:2).

(4) They enjoy the privilege of spiritual guidance and support, and where necessary correction within the fellowship of the Church. As part of a body of people (Church) who make like profession of faith in Christ and love for the ordinances, and concern for holy living, it is a privilege to be among those who will help (practically as well as spiritually) and guide in the things of the Lord. In our day of ‘gathered’ congregations and relative isolation we tend to see ‘Church’ narrowly in terms of services. It has to be more than that, with meaningful interaction. As Peter taught: “be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful [tender-hearted], be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8). He went on to write: “above all things have fervent charity [love] for one another…Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:8-10).

(5) They enjoy the privilege of having a voice in the oversight of the Church. That is to say, the communicant membership has the privilege of voting on pastors, elders and deacons in the local congregation (see Acts 6:1-7). In addition, it is the privilege of male members, when in the view of the Church they have suitable qualifications for office, to be open to election as office-bearers themselves in their local congregation.