Has “Joining” Church become “Old Skool?”
May 16, 2011 by Admin
Filed under Church, Faith, Gospel Today Features
Is Church no longer “Membership” Driven?
According to Church Growth expert, DR SAM CHAND, there are new “tribes†of church-goers:
• “Non-Member-Regular-Attendeesâ€â€”people who regularly attend a church and may attend for an extended period of time, but have not chosen to become members; and
• “Bi-churched†attendees—people who share their allegiance with more than one church.
Furthermore, today’s churches have attendees with unique ways of thinking—natives and immigrants.
• Natives have exclusive and long-term membership in one congregation;
• Immigrants are shoppers for faith who seek short-term relationships with several congregations.
The Progressive Pastor understands that when he or she goes net-fishing, the catch will likely include all manner of fish. Pastors of growing churches do not wait for someone to become a member before they can be asked to serve.
I’m sure you know of churches where it’s “members†only. That means you cannot volunteer to sing in the choir, serve as a greeter or assist people in the parking lot unless you’re a member.
I think every church will sooner or later have to wrestle with the following question, “What is it that Joe or Suzie cannot do unless they are members?†This question, very difficult to answer in many cases will define the sphere and scope of how you discover, develop and deploy the people God is bringing to you.
It’s not easy to become a member of a church because some churches ask for a major committment when joining. For example, some churches ask that you committ yourself every sunday for the entire day. Morning and Afternoon service and you must commit to an auxillary…. In my old church, they wanted all of the congregation to pay dues. In this day and time, with people losing their jobs, and trying to keep up with the low paying jobs, it is very, very hard! Saturday and Sunday are the only days we really have to do the following: Grocery Shop, Clean our house, do laundry, Shop for necessities, and if you are a parent, forget it.. the list gets 10x’s longer! Lately, I have been staying home some sundays just to catch up. I have not been very faithful to the auxillary that I am on because of time. Sometimes my body is very tired and fatigue… I need the rest or I will end up in a hospital! then you have the church people who say that if you are falling off you are a sinner… huh? The love of God is so pure and real, but the church and its organization can make people decide to “church hop”! The Bible speaks about the great falling away, and I believe these are the reasons why, Time and money!
Could it be that man-made ideals and structure of “the Church / their Members” is being shut down. The people of God don’t belong to man (mankind), we all are children of God through the acceptance of Christ Jesus. While functioning in your gift, some leaders have exalted themselves higher than they ought. Believe with all confidence in the Word of truth that as the Lord says he will supply our needs, know He will. This will free your spirit, mind, and soul and will free the people of God to feed on the Word when at your table and serve freely as well. All of this said is not to say we should not have order because we must, that is a character trait of our Father.
The Sabboth was made for man, not man for the Sabboth. The traditional Church has become all consuming. Many are now attending a more contemporary fellowship; one where there are various activities scheduled thru out the week at varying times so people can be a part of something where it fits into their lives. This might be the answer for many. we have prayer/bible study early one morning but late another evening. We have bible classes various weeknights and also on Sunday nights. Our fellowship services are at 9 and 11 am on Sunday morning but you can also get the notes and watch podcasts of the sermon at your convenience during the week. Jesus went where the people were, he met their needs. We have got to be aware of our times and circumstances. The purpose is to strengthen the body to do the work of the ministry, not get ‘causght up’ in our definition of ‘church’. Without a vison, the people perish. It is time for the ‘CHURCH’ to get out of the box and actually ‘BECOME THE CHURCH’.
No, joining “church” has not become old school. Every true believer needs to be accountable to some local assembly. This is to have a spiritual covering and fellowship with like believers. People can join credit unions, and store clubs without reservation because it offers them protection and benefits. Becoming a member of a local church offers the same thing and so much more. Moreover, I don’t believe that one can actually join a church, but one should be “born” into a church (i.e., you don’t choose your natural or spiritual parents). Allow God to plant you.
Has joining church become old school? What type of question is that for a believer to ask? Wow, how far we have come! Hebrews 10:25 says – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. In these perilous times, we cannot afford to church hop and not have a covering. Your leader is your covering –the one that watches over your soul, leads and guides you, and offers correction to make sure that you are ‘rapture ready’. You can’t eat from everybody’s table. You definitely can’t allow anybody to stand before the people of God and proclaim anything, whether through words or song, if they’re not right. No wonder the bible says in 1 Peter 4:17… For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? We have to get it right, or else we’re going to have gate trouble.