Membership has it privileges

Membership has its privileges

That's a popular slogan of a credit card company that wants to entice you to use their card and with it the privileges of being one of their members.  Many people join organizations and clubs for the "privileges" that come along with being a "member".  Unfortunately, we bring that same mentality into our churches.

Church membership is not the same as joining some country club or other organization, as a matter of fact, being a church member is a privilege that we get to even be considered a member of the body of Christ, which is what the church.

We live in a world with a consumer mentality, meaning, we want to know what benefits we're going to get or "what's in it for me" if we join this shopping rewards club, or use this credit card, or join that social club or group.  Church is the opposite, meaning, we get to participate and be a part of Jesus' spiritual body when we become Christians and the benefits are from God.

Not only that, but this membership is to honor Jesus and give Him glory and worship.  It's about Him and not about us.  We are blessed that He would even allow us to call ourselves "Christians" and be a part of His membership.  Not only are we privileged to be Christians and members of His Church, but He is also counting on us to grow and mature in our faith, build our hope, and use our gifts, talents, abilities, time, and treasures to build up His body by reaching lost people, sharing our faith, and discipling others.  

We must change our mindset and attitude that church is about us and what we want and what we get out of it and if I'm comfortable and getting my way.  Instead we must approach church membership as a privilege we don't deserve, but appreciative of God's grace and mercy and grateful we are allowed to participate in this Holy body.

Imagine how different the local church would be if Christians took their namesake serious and they took there membership into the Church with more reverence, commitment, and realizing it's all about Jesus and not us.

May we all realize the privilege we have of being saved, being Christians, and being members of the Lord's church.

Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV)¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. ²² And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.