As I continue with our topic, Church – Membership or Citizenship, I hope to wrap it up with this post. I think it goes without saying; words are powerful. Most often those in the church will user words and cliches and they will place much confidence in the improper use of these words. Lets take for instance the word membership and what it implies. A member is someone who meets the standards or the qualifications to be apart of an organization.
Should we use this word in reference to church membership? Why do I ask? Many church members rightfully know, you can not join the body of Christ, you must be born again. There are many who do not know Christ as Lord ans Savior and they have been mislead into joining the church because there were told they needed a covering. How can a church leader watch for the soul of someone who knows not Christ? What is the reason for their membership in any church organization. Soon after watching, observing and experiencing foist hand, the lives and interaction of the members of that church, the unsaved member sees no reason for salvation and there is no urgency to accept Christ as Lord and savior.
The problem with membership
The rules of membership change from location to location. There is little relevance and consistency among churches in the same jurisdiction. You have the rules of the local church, the rules of the jurisdiction and the international rules. Although the rules and the by-laws are reflective from the national church down to the local church, leaders often decide which rules to follow and with to ignore. If a member leaves one church to attend another in the same jurisdiction, the pastors gaining the new member, will call the members former pastor to ask what kind of member they were, also the pastor receiving the new member, sees this action as his church is actually growing. Yes, growing in the number as it relates to filling a pew, but what about someone who know not Christ? Much focus in many churches is placed on filling the pews with bodies and to get them interested in attending, many churches resort to programs and entertainment that will mesmerize the people and give them a good spiritual feeling.
Some of the questions that might be asked are; Did you support the church with your tithes? Did you work in the church? And, What was/is your ministry? How unfortunate for you if your were trying to get a fresh start because you had trouble in the last church (wow…trouble in the church), only to have your new pastor know more about you than you know about him. 
Members are often faced with having to attend indoctrination classes when attending a new church. Well…here is another problem, you are a professing member of the body of Christ, you’ve been walking with the Lord for X number or years and you need to be indoctrinated into how the new church does things and what the new church teaches. Shouldn’t we be teaching the same thing? Do we not (for the most part) read from the same book called the bible? No wonder the non-believer looks at the church with contempt, we cant get our act together as members move on to better places of worship.
Another problem with membership is the competition it breeds among the members within the church and other churches in the same jurisdiction. Which department can raise the most offering, fill the most pews, report the highest numbers in Sunday School classes. When these leaders meet, their pride is in their membership. If we are to compete, lets compete against time…its running out! If we are to compete, lets see what church get more people to follow Christ and become members of the Kingdom of God.
Some churches have 200 members, others 150 and this is known among their circle. When its time for the Jurisdiction to raise an offering, the pastor with the largest membership is expected to generate to most revenue.
The Club Mentality
Maybe there lacks the proper understanding of the word to define that act of joining with other believers in a common place for corporate worship (called fellowship) we have somehow embraced the word membership. I believe when people think of membership, certain rules must apply to keep your membership in good standing. In a fellowship, everyone has things in common and are in agreement and harmony with one another. Not in many of today’s churches. There is much bickering, fighting, groups and clicks and competition among the believers, its like the modern day Corinthian church.
I can recall visiting a local church, when the service was over, everyone met in the fellowship hall for dinner, my family and I sat at a table… alone. We didn’t know anyone, we weren’t trying to sit alone, we were visitors and the rest of the membership of the church was in the line getting something to eat. The pastor finally came over to us and welcomed us, apologized for none of his members greeting us and then got everyone’s attention and said “saints, we can do better at greeting our visitors, everyone is over there and our visitors are sitting alone.” It made us feel uncomfortable, especially when people started to come over and speak only after the pastor corrected them.Why do I say a club mentality, surely before most of us came to know Christ, frequented a club or a party (many still do), you didn’t know anyone and and everyone there flocked to and stayed with who they knew. The club provides entertainment, its a place where you can meet new people and make connections. You may pay a cover charge in a club but you can sit, enjoy the , the people , the conversation and the music. In any club, there are rules, if you do not abide by them, you are asked to leave. Some patrons get special privileges and others are simply well know in the club by reputation, some as regulars, best dancers, the one always drunk or looking for a date. Likewise in many churches their exist a club mentality. Believers will flock to their groups, those whom they are comfortable with. Meanwhile the visitor or visitors will be standing there alone and can sense they are not totally accepted. Those who are and those who aren’t serious about their faith will cling to those like them, Elders and Pastors, Ministers with members. After church service, select groups will go out to eat at the local hangout, those who can not afford to eat out, will go home. Many will chose to find another location away from the main group.
Read the conclusion of : Church – Membership or Citizenship?
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