Why would you consider being a formal church member at a church like Coram Deo, and what would that entail? Let’s explore that under a few headings.
Reasons for Church Membership
- It is biblical and historical. Biblical churches have always been assemblies of baptized believers who are committed to true doctrine, fellowship, the ordinances, and prayer (Acts 2:38-47). Members of these churches submitted themselves to church leaders who kept a close watch over them and gave an account for their individual souls (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 13:7, 17). Churches practiced discipline when church members were not living in step with their profession of faith and put them outside the membership of the church (1 Corinthians 5; Matthew 18:15-19). How can we love each other as Christ has commanded us if we are not committed to live life alongside each other? See all the “one-another” commands in Scripture (John 13:34-35; Romans 12:10, 16; Galatians 6:2; Colossians 3:13, 16, etc.).
- It is healthy. Someone who never commits to anything and moves from job to job, place to place, or relationship to relationship, is not a healthy person. But in our modern church culture today, we see a lot of people moving from church to church often and never committing anywhere. Staying at one church for a long time is a good and healthy way to express your commitment to the Lord and it yields the blessings of long-term friendships, service, and experience.
Motives for Church Membership
There are bad motives and good motives for joining a church. Some bad motives include:
- I want to have a say at the meetings. Just wanting to share your opinion and wanting the church to go your way is not a good reason to join a church. This probably comes from a selfish and proud heart, and it is likely to produce conflict (1 Corinthians 13:5; James 4:1-2). Not that we don’t welcome everyone’s thoughts at our church (we are actually committed to that), but it is not a good motive for joining.
- I want to be a leader in the church. Again, this is probably a selfish motive. Our church will recognize who the leaders are over time as they show themselves to be godly men with an ability to teach. Setting yourself on a position, rather than joining so you can love and serve the people of God to his glory, is a clear sign of a lack of humility (Mark 10:35-45).
- I want to get more out of church. A lot of people come to church with a “consumeristic” mindset. They want to take more and more from the church, its leaders, its resources, etc. There is plenty the church wants to give you, don’t get me wrong! But if you are just at a church to benefit from it, without wanting to give yourself in service to it, you are acting from a selfish mindset (Philippians 2:4).
Good motives include:
- The Glory of God. We are to do everything to God’s glory, to please and honor him (1 Corinthians 10:31)! If you believe committing to the church is a way to please God and submit to his word, then you should glorify God by doing it!
- The Good of Others. Ultimately, we do not join a church just for ourselves, but for the benefit of others. We are called to serve and love others and use our gifts to build them up (Philippians 2:4-11; Galatians 5:13; 1 Corinthians 12:7).
Benefits of Church Membership
There are many benefits of being a committed part of your local church. Some of the blessings include: strong Christian relationships, support, prayer, fellowship, accountability, more opportunities to serve, a greater level of shepherding care from leaders, sharing your unique gifts and wisdom with the body, and being a part of the government and discipline of the church. The Lord also has a way of growing us in a church body that just doesn’t happen alone! It’s like in a marriage, where sticking with another person through trials and joys can shape you in wonderful ways. So the Lord grows us through life together with fellow church members.
Trials of Church Membership
Being committed to a local church means you are committed to a group of people who (like yourself) are imperfect! We are all sinners and sufferers. Therefore, commitment and service to each other through thick and thin can be a challenge. Learning to love and serve people around you even in times of sin, suffering, weakness, and loss, is a real trial. But like in your biological family, you love each member even through failure, sin, conflict, and difficulties. The church is the family of God, and so we are called to love each other with the same love he has shown us in Christ.
1 John 4:11-12: “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.”
Pastor Rory St. John