I believe church membership is very necessary. In fact, I think the Bible requires it and it is absolutely essential to one's spiritual health. Without it, there is no way the leadership of the church can rightly care for people. This article describes well the decisions that I continually have to make as a pastor when caring for people in the church. When I am limited in time and must choose whom the Lord has called me to serve, I know He has called me to serve members first.
Non-members might consider this unfair or unloving, but even Jesus realized that He was called to a certain people (Matt 15:24) and was limited by his human body (John 14:25-26 ~ hence, the promised Helper). Membership is a voluntary commitment into a particular family of God, a local church. And it desires this type of care from the church's servant leaders.
Impediments to Church Membership
So what keeps people from becoming members? I can think of 5 reasons, though I am sure there are many more:
Again, I am sure there are plenty of other reasons. But there really is no legitimate reason for a person to refuse church membership in any church (though there are many reasons to refuse membership in particular churches).
Non-members might consider this unfair or unloving, but even Jesus realized that He was called to a certain people (Matt 15:24) and was limited by his human body (John 14:25-26 ~ hence, the promised Helper). Membership is a voluntary commitment into a particular family of God, a local church. And it desires this type of care from the church's servant leaders.
Impediments to Church Membership
So what keeps people from becoming members? I can think of 5 reasons, though I am sure there are many more:
- Laziness ~ Many people "desire" to be members. But due to their laziness, they simply aren't willing to do what it takes to become a member. The process is too cumbersome. It slips this person's mind to attend the next session. Life has suddenly become unexpectedly busy. One can imagine a million excuses, but if we really are honest with ourselves, laziness is the ultimate reason.
- No Value ~ Some people simply see no value in membership. If the church simply treats members and non-members without distinction, then it is easy to see why this is the case. Also, this person doesn't understand the biblical distinctions of membership and why it is crucial to one's faith. But I am with Mark Dever and Ligon Duncan. Membership matters greatly!
- Fear of Commitment ~ This reason is the issue of the day. In a consumerist culture where commitment means committing to something for 1 year, is it surprising at all that people are afraid of commitment? Relational commitment means sacrifice, love, steadfastness, responsibility, all words that are terrifying words to the commitment-phobe. Church membership is simply another place where this phobia is manifested.
- Disagreement ~ Perhaps a person agrees with everything a church believes save one component. Often times, it is not that which is essential which is the essence of the disagreement. Usually a person still can't get over the music style or the small group structure or the lack of a dynamic youth ministry. But there is enough at the church to keep him there, so he straddles the fence, one foot in the church, one foot out the door. Such a heart though is often indicative not merely of church membership, but of one's outlook on one's faith and the world.
- Past Negative Experiences ~ It's quite possible that this person has had a strongly negative experience with a church that has abused its authority. And so to become a member of another church is traumatic, so to speak. But this perspective is one based on fear and it will keep this person from ever experiencing the new grace of God that has mercy for each new morning (Lam 3:23).
Again, I am sure there are plenty of other reasons. But there really is no legitimate reason for a person to refuse church membership in any church (though there are many reasons to refuse membership in particular churches).