Why the Doctrine of Conversion Matters for Membership Interviews
October 27, 2026
October 27, 2026
Abstract: David Burnette explains why the doctrine of conversion is so crucial for pastors and churches as they carry out their responsibilities in affirming new members as believers. We must not only understand what conversion is but also be able to apply it to the lives of real people. After giving some basic reminders about membership interviews and identifying things that we are not looking for as evidence of conversion, Burnette provides four questions to help us evaluate whether a prospective member has been converted.
Editor’s Note: This article is taken from Church Matters, the 9Marks journal for pastors, in the issue titled Conversion.
“I wasn’t living right. I was getting drunk, partying, just doing whatever I wanted. And then it was like God just stopped me in my tracks. I knew something had to change. That’s when I started coming to church, and one Sunday, I felt like the preacher was talking directly to me. Right then I knew I needed to become a Christian, and I got baptized a few weeks later. That was about a year ago, and ever since then I’ve pretty much been coming to church and trying to do what’s right.”
That’s how Ben responded when you asked him how he became a Christian. Ben recently moved to your city, and he just completed your church’s four-week New Members Class. Now, as the final step in the process—often called a “membership interview”—you as a pastor must decide whether you will recommend Ben for membership at the next members’ meeting.11 .For the purposes of this article, I’m concerned primarily with the question of whether Ben is converted. I’m assuming he meets your church’s other membership requirements.
No doubt you’ve heard similar testimonies, even if the details differ. There’s been some kind of change in the person’s life, and they seem sincere, but it’s not yet clear that this change was rooted in the gospel. So you’ll need to do some more probing.
Testimonies like Ben’s remind us why having a biblical doctrine of conversion is so crucial when it comes to the church’s responsibility to affirm new members as believers. After all, it’s difficult to discern whether someone has been converted if you’re hazy on what conversion is.22 .For an explanation of the doctrine of conversion, see Michael Lawrence, Conversion (Crossway, 2017); see also the article by Gregg Allison titled “You Can’t Make It Happen: The Spirit and the Doctrine of Conversion” in this issue of Church Matters.
Testimonies like Ben’s also remind us that we must be able to apply our doctrine of conversion to real-life people in real-life situations. Some prospective members will be new Christians, while others will be less mature in their faith; some will have been converted for years but still have significant blind spots; still others will think they’re Christians when they haven’t truly been converted. And those aren’t the only complicating factors.
Some will have a hard time articulating the very truths they profess; others will fail to mention basic aspects of the gospel in their interview; more than a few will be unsure as to how and when they recognized their need for a Savior. All these factors (and more) mean that wisdom and discernment are needed when we are interviewing prospective members.
Before thinking through some practical ways to probe further with testimonies like Ben’s, a few basic reminders may be helpful.
Unlike Jesus, we can’t look into a person’s heart, which means our decisions about someone’s spiritual state are never infallible. The very fact that Jesus gave instructions about excommunication indicates that he knew the church would sometimes welcome in those who weren’t truly converted (see Matt. 18:15–18). Even the apostle Paul was wrong about his one-time co-worker Demas.33 .Prior to Demas’s departure, Paul mentions him twice when he refers to his fellow workers in the gospel ministry (Col. 4:14; Phlm. 24). Our aim is simply to try to discern—in accordance with Scripture and the help of the Spirit—whether there is credible evidence of God’s saving grace in a person’s life.
You don’t have to be a biblical counselor to know that people are complicated and sanctification is a slow, often uneven process. Even those who have been converted for decades continue to struggle—not only with isolated “slip-ups” but also with deeply ingrained sinful habits. What conversion looks like in a person’s life will be shaped by a variety of factors, including their level of spiritual maturity, their religious background (or lack thereof), the previous churches they attended, their temperament, and their life experiences, among other things.
We may be tempted to welcome into membership those who are not converted but who seem to be “close” to becoming a Christian. Surely they’ll be better off with more exposure to the gospel and to other Christians, right? Yet Jesus didn’t give the church the authority to exercise the “keys” in this way (Matt. 16:19). If church membership is a collective affirmation that someone already belongs to the Lord, then affirming unbelievers gives them false assurance rather than showing them their greatest need. We also risk harming the church’s unity, fellowship, and witness. If we truly care about the person’s soul, then we’ll explain why we can’t recommend them for membership while warmly encouraging them to put their faith in Christ. An evangelistic Bible study would serve them better than a false affirmation about their spiritual state.
Evidence of someone’s spiritual state normally grows stronger through ongoing discipleship and, if necessary, church discipline. That shouldn’t lead us to “lower the bar” on what constitutes a credible profession, but it should give us some perspective for those who seem to be converted but whose spiritual immaturity leaves us feeling concerned. Becoming a member isn’t the finish line: it’s the first step in incorporating an individual into a body of believers that can provide discipleship, encouragement, and accountability.
Finally, remember that the church doesn’t ultimately determine someone’s spiritual standing. As Paul said, “It is God who justifies” (Rom. 8:33, emphasis added). This is a needed reminder when we have to make the difficult decision not to recommend someone for membership and we fear that we may be driving them away from the Lord. We can trust that our decisions, even the mistaken ones, can’t undo God’s saving purposes (Rom. 8:30; Phil. 1:6).
As we turn to consider the evidence of conversion in a person’s life, it may be helpful to identify some things that we’re not looking for.
First, we’re not looking for an experience in the past to verify that someone has been converted. Some may well remember where they were and what they were feeling when they first recognized their need for a Savior—what a blessing! However, Scripture nowhere makes this kind of memory a condition for salvation.44 .Interestingly, the book of 1 John, which seeks to give genuine believers assurance that they have eternal life (1 John 5:13), nowhere mentions a past experience as evidence of eternal life. Instead, believers are encouraged to look at their lives in the present to see evidence of eternal life. For more on the kind of evidence to look for, see the section below that addresses the fruit of conversion. Conversion involves trusting in Christ, not a past experience. Many people who walked an aisle or prayed the “sinner’s prayer” now care nothing for the things of the Lord. Their lives give evidence that they were never truly converted (1 John 2:19).
Second, we’re not looking (or listening) to see how articulate a person is. The fundamental question is not how well they communicate the gospel but whether they believe it. Sure, it’d be great if every prospective member sounded like Charles Spurgeon, but Jesus didn’t come for the eloquent. He came for sinners (Luke 19:10).
Third, we’re not looking for maturity in Christlikeness. Yes, conversion affects a person’s beliefs and behaviors, so we should look for evidence that this kind of change has begun. But that’s different from requiring that someone reach a certain level of spiritual maturity before receiving them into membership. Godliness is the goal of conversion, not its prerequisite.
Thankfully, Scripture doesn’t leave us guessing when it comes to the evidence of conversion. Here are four basic questions that can help us determine if an individual’s profession of faith is credible.
Here we’re concerned with what Paul calls the truths of “first importance,” including Christ’s life, death, and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:3–4).55 .Paul’s brief summary of the gospel in 1 Cor. 15:3–4 doesn’t explicitly mention Christ’s life of perfect obedience, but he clearly assumes this fact throughout his letters. In order to understand these truths in their gospel context, the person must have at least some knowledge of other related truths. For example, the person should be able to affirm that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine (1 John 4:2, 15); they should know something of God’s character, such as his holiness, righteousness, and goodness (even if they don’t use those exact words); they should have a basic understanding of sin, including the fact that sin is an offense against God; and they should understand that the response required by the gospel is repentance and faith, which means they cannot save themselves through their own efforts or good works.
To be clear, we’re not expecting the person to use all the right theological terms or to give us an in-depth explanation of any of these doctrines. We’re simply looking for a basic understanding.
Conversion requires knowing the facts of the gospel, but it isn’t merely about head knowledge. It involves a heartfelt turning from sin (repentance) and a personal reliance on Christ for salvation (faith).66 .Historically many Reformed theologians have identified three elements of saving faith: knowledge (notitia), assent (assensus), and trust (fiducia). Michael Horton, The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way (Zondervan Academic, 2011), 583. Horton rightly notes that saving faith is “directed to a person: the triune God as he has revealed himself in Christ as our redeemer.” The individual should readily acknowledge not only that there is sin out there in the world but also that he (or she) is a sinner in need of a Savior.77 .This personal aspect of faith is consistent with the answer given to Question 7 in the Heidelberg Catechism: “What is true faith? True faith is not only a sure knowledge by which I hold as true all that God has revealed to us in his Word; it is also a wholehearted trust, which the Holy Spirit works in me by the gospel, that God has freely granted, not only to others but to me also, forgiveness of sins, eternal righteousness, and salvation. These gifts are purely of grace, only because of Christ’s merit.” (emphasis added). Accessed at https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/the-heidelberg-catechism. Those who don’t acknowledge their sin are deceived (1 John 1:8, 10).
This isn’t something we can observe in an interview, but we can at least ask about the biblical fruits of conversion. For instance, the book of 1 John mentions things like confession of sin (1:5–2:2), obedience to God’s commands (2:3–6), love for God’s people (4:20–21), and right belief in Jesus Christ (4:2; 5:1). Of course, no Christian will do any of these things perfectly—otherwise confession wouldn’t be necessary!—but there should at least be signs of spiritual life.88 .These signs of spiritual life will obviously look different in a new believer than they will for a mature believer. For more on discerning signs of spiritual life, see Donald Whitney, How Can I Be Sure I’m a Christian? What the Bible Says about Assurance of Salvation (NavPress, 1994), 49–66. As someone put it, we’re not looking for perfection but a new direction.
Since our ability to observe an individual’s character and conduct is often limited, we want to make sure that their previous church still affirms their profession of faith and that they are not under any form of church discipline. This is often referred to as being a “member in good standing” and (ideally) it will be indicated by the fact that their former church still welcomes them to the Lord’s Table.99 .For more on the relationship between the ordinances and church membership, see Jonathan Leeman, “What is the Relationship Between Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and Church Membership?” in Church Matters, vol. 7, 19–23. At the same time, we should recognize that not all churches exercise the same level of care when it comes to membership and participation in the Lord’s Supper. Still, in most cases, getting another church’s collective affirmation adds more credibility to an individual’s profession of faith.
Now let’s apply each of the questions above to Ben, the guy I mentioned at the beginning. He spoke of a change in his life, but he didn’t mention any specifics about the gospel.
I’d start by asking Ben to explain the gospel briefly (Question #1). If he seemed to be unclear on one or more basic truths, I might follow up with questions like: “If a friend asked you what they needed to believe to be a Christian, what would you say? Why was it necessary for Jesus to die in order for sinners to be saved? What does the Bible say God is like? What is sin, and why is it such a big deal to God? How can we receive the gift of salvation that God offers us in the gospel? Do you think God will accept a person as long as they sincerely try to live a good life?”
Once I’m satisfied that Ben knows the basics of the gospel, I would want to make sure that he has recognized his need for a Savior (Question #2). He said that God “stopped him in his tracks,” but was this the conviction of the Holy Spirit or just a general feeling of guilt? To answer that, I might ask Ben questions like, “So why do you think you need the gospel? Can you tell me about how you’ve sensed the Lord convicting you of sin? Have you submitted your life to Jesus as your Lord?” These kinds of questions aren’t intended to put Ben on the defensive; they’re intended to help him elaborate on the Lord’s work in his life.
Finally, if it seems that Ben is trusting in Christ as his Savior and Lord, I would want to hear about how becoming a Christian has changed him (Question #3). To be clear, I’m not expecting Ben to tell me that he never feels the pull of his old sinful lifestyle. Rather, I want to hear that he is now bothered by his old sins and that he’s battling them instead of delighting in them. In other words, I’m looking for evidence that the Lord has been changing Ben’s desires. Has he noticed an increasing desire to hear and obey God’s Word? Has he found a growing love for God’s people? Would those who know him best say there’s evidence that Ben is now seeking to follow Jesus?
Hopefully Ben’s answers will make it evident that he has, in fact, been converted, and you can happily recommend him for membership. However, if the questions above have led you to conclude that Ben is not converted, you can still use this opportunity to serve him and the church. Here’s a suggestion.
Explain to Ben why you’re not yet ready to affirm his profession of faith, and for his own eternal good, be specific. Then assure him that your greatest desire is that he would know Jesus and invite Ben to walk with you through a book of the Bible (maybe the book of Mark or John?) or a resource that clearly lays out what it means to be a Christian.1010 .A couple resources that may be helpful include: Greg Gilbert, Who Is Jesus? (Crossway, 2015); and Greg Gilbert, What Is the Gospel? (Crossway, 2010). See also the evangelistic resources at christianityexplained.com. If he’s willing, this could be a wonderful opportunity to clarify the gospel and answer any questions. Perhaps the Lord will use this process to bring Ben to faith! Either way, you’ve served Ben and the church well by helping to clarify where Ben stands with the Lord.
It's sobering to think that people can be sincere but not saved. That they can belong to our churches but not to Christ. That they can be nice without being made new. That's why pastors and churches must have a clear understanding of what the Bible has to say about conversion.
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