Are All Church Members Elect?

This controversial question can perhaps be answered like this?  Yes -- and No.

Think of Israel.  The nation is elect, as a body.  Likewise, the church, as the enlarged successor of Israel, is also elect, as a body.  The visible church, according to our Standards, is the "household and family of God."

But, is everyone in the church personally elect?  Well, ask the question about Israel.  Was everyone in Israel personally elect?  No.  Judgment begins at the house of God, and it began there often.  It continues in the time of the New Covenant, and will begin there at the Judgment.

But, the truly serious question pertains to judgment now.  Am I elect?  Well, do I rest in Christ my Lord and Savior?  If so, then yes, I am elect.

Then, what about my neighbor in the church?  Is he elect?  Well, is he resting in Christ his Lord and Savior?  He says he is.  How do I know for sure?  Am I to doubt his profession?  Am I to go around doubting all my fellow church-members, because I cannot read their hearts?  What will this do to our Christian fellowship, which is so necessary for the life of the church?

It's not right to doubt like this.  Unless there are serious reasons to doubt a person's profession of faith, we have to accept it, and therefore regard him as elect!  So, denial of election for professing believers can only be connected with legitimate, scriptural process of personal (private) judgment, and the process of church discipline.

So, are all members of the professing church elect?  No, not from God's standpoint of election and omniscience.  But, from our standpoint down here below, we have to look upon them as being such, and pray for all of them to persevere.

And, we should not look upon our present ignorance of who are God's true elect as some kind of defect in our church life!  God made it to be this way for a reason!  Amazingly enough, this affirmative view of the practical election of all churchmembers in good standing, which is "forced upon us" in our finitude, brings about precisely the mutual care, love and admonition among ourselves that calls the true elect to Christ and holds them in perseverance to himself!