The local church plays a significant role in your spiritual life. In most cases, the local church is the primary source of Bible teaching, worship, discipleship, accountability, admonishment, encouragement, and fellowship. Please find below four reasons why we believe church membership matters.
It Is Biblical
The term member is not used in the Bible but the concept of commitment certainly is. The word partnership is used and that is a very good way of understanding membership. In Philippians 1:5 Paul wrote, “I thank my God for your partnership in the Gospel.” He knew Philippians’s committed people were what caused the church to succeed. Throughout the Bible believers were identified with a local church whether in Corinth, Ephesus, Colossae or other cities. One of the major themes of the Bible is commitment and there is no better way to commit than becoming a member of a church.
It Gives Stability
A church is on the front lines of the spiritual battle. It faces opposition in many ways and needs to have a solid core of people who support it with their time, talent and treasure. For a church to be successful people need to step up to higher levels of commitment. Membership is a high level of commitment and the more members in the church the more stable and secure the church will be. The stability of the church allows it to take the risks necessary to make an impact in their community.
It Provides Accountability
Being a church attender is not the same as being a church member. Attending allows you to be a part of a church without necessarily being known by the church. When you become a member you are making commitments that you are then held accountable for fulfilling. Accountability is a necessary aspect of the Christian life and membership ensures it will regularly function. For the leadership of the church there is nothing like knowing people have “skin in the game” especially as decisions are made.
It Benefits You
Becoming a member of a local church is a defining moment in your Christ follower-ship. It is a statement that you take your commitment to Christ seriously enough to make a commitment to Christ’s church in a local place. Membership is making a commitment and communicating it in a public way. Like the case with any commitment, successful people are just ordinary people who make commitments others are unwilling to make. Your membership also allows the opportunity to help make key decisions affecting the church’s future. In a world where membership in almost every group is falling you can help the church be the one place where it is increasing.
