A study in Church Membership
I Am Church Member by Thom S. Rainer
Two types of Church members:
Church membership as a country club. When a person or family
join a country club, you pay a basic membership fee and then have
a monthly or yearly fee to remain a member. What do you expect
to receive from that membership? You expect to be served! You go
to the club, play golf, eat a meal and conduct business. So, it is
with country club church membership. You pay dues (tithe) in
order to receive church services. You attend to hear worship music
you enjoy. Listen to sermons that please you. Receive pastoral
services that meets your needs. A country club church member
finds it easy to express dissatisfaction when needs go unmet. This
type of membership allows whining. The music does not meet my
needs. The pastor does not meet my expectations. He does not
“feed” me. The church does not use their resources as I think they
should. There are hypocrites and spiritual snobs. The list can go on.
Church membership that serves. God places people in a church to
serve, care for others, to pray for leaders, to learn, to teach, to give
and in some cases a willingness to die for the sake of the gospel.
This view of church membership creates a new attitude toward the
church. Develops a Christian who will grow to become a praying
productive Christian empowered by Holy Spirit to serve.
It seems like church membership is not a priority today. In the
coming weeks we will take a look at what the Bible says about
what being a church member means.
This coming week: Prayerfully, consider the two types of church
membership. What is the focus of your part of this fellowship of
believers here at Montgomery Heights Baptist Church?