WHY BECOME A MEMBER?
The difference between attendees and members really comes down to one word: commitment. A lot of people seek to avoid commitment. We generally want less in our lives, not more. We’re already busy enough…why give more time, more money, and more energy to a church? Why make the jump from attending to being a member?
Attending a church is like dating. Becoming a member is like getting married. When you are dating, there’s a low level of commitment, but when you take a big step and ask a person to marry you, then you’ve crossed the line of commitment. God wants people to quit dating the church and make a commitment.
Joining a church is taking a big step in your personal life’s mission. Here are a few reasons why membership matters:
1. Christ is committed to the church. Ephesians 5:25 says, “Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it." We need to understand that the church is God’s Plan. Jesus said, “I will build my church.”
2. It is an antidote to our society. We live in an age where very few want to be committed to anything – a job, a marriage, a church. This attitude has produced a generation of "church shoppers." Membership transforms us from consumers into participants
3. It helps us know who can be counted on. Every team must have a roster. Every school must have an enrollment. Every business has a payroll. Every army has an enlistment. Membership identifies our church family.
4. It produces spiritual growth. The New Testament places a major emphasis on the need for Christians to be accountable to each other for spiritual growth. Sure, you can learn things from just attending, but when you commit to being involved, there are more opportunities for spiritual growth.