I Am a Church Member: A Functioning Member

A Functioning Member

Romans 12:3-8

For we have many members in one body, but not all members have the same function. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

1 Corinthians 10:17; 12:27; Ephesians 4:12; Hebrews 13:3

The Church of Jesus Christ is called “the Body of Christ.”

Each and every one of us is joined to Christ through regeneration/being born again/saved (Ephesians 4:15-16)

Each member of the Body of Christ follow Christ as their Head (Ephesians 1:22-23).

The Church, the Body, represent Christ on this earth and Christ manifests His life, show His life to the world through the Church.

Each member has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9).

Members are given gifts by God to be used to glorify God and to build up the church as a whole (1 Cor. 12; Ephesians 4:12-13).

One Body. Every member has a function. Every member needs to function for the Body as a whole to function well.

*I am a Church Member. God calls me to be a functioning church member. I will be a functioning Church member.

In clubs, membership means perks, privileges, and that others will serve me.

That is why some people join churches: For social purposes, to get a grave plot, to have their needs met. Some join to sing, to play music, to give them an outlet… to make them happy.

Leaders are called or hired to make them happy. One member told my friend (a pastor) years back: “You are here to make me happy… and I am not happy.”

And when those members are not happy… they quit paying their dues… their social club dues. We may call them tithes and offerings… But they want to let everyone know… they are unhappy...

For all of them, membership is about receiving instead of giving… being served instead of serving… It is about their rights and entitlements... instead of self-sacrificing.

So, what does the Bible say about Church Membership?

There is a Body, not a club, but a Body of born-again believers who belong to one another through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, by regeneration, Who brings us together to be One Body of believers, to be the hands and feet of Christ on planet earth.

We have the same foundation and same goal. We have the same mission and the same purpose. We are centered on love, and we are gifted to serve Christ and one another.

This past Wednesday, at the house, we focused on the Church being of One Accord… Of One Mind… Of the Same Purpose, of the same goal… But self gets in the way all the time!

Now: There is order. There is leadership. But there are only servants... that function differently. Some are eyes. Some are ears. Some are feet. Some are hands. Some are preachers, teachers, evangelists, workers of good works...

We are all different… But we are of the same body, and we are all necessary parts of the whole.

Every part… has to do its part… or the whole body suffers. If you don’t function… the Body will suffer. But if the member does its part… the Whole body rejoices and is stronger.

Church membership is founded on love: We want to love God and love others.

So just think about this functionality:

If the Body would come together, be together, to seek God together, to pray for one another, encourage one another...

Without talking about specific gifting… if we would just come together and do this… How much healthier would the church be?

If you didn’t know your gifting… You can still function in this way and we would all be healthier for it...

If we would only function...

Church Membership is Functioning Membership

How do we become and remain a biblical member?

We give, we serve one another without hesitation.

In our world today, you can be kept on the active membership list just by being a CEO Christian: A Christmas and Easter Only Christian. That is, you only come to a church building on those days.

We are not talking about military folks or bed-ridden folks.

There are some who just watch the services online, and believe that they are members. Even though they do not serve the Body.

In some churches, you could be an honored member just as long as you give that fat check to the church before the New Year… and never lift a finger to serve throughout the year.

This is not Biblical Membership. This is man-made, man-centered…and is contrary to what the Bible teaches.

Biblical membership gives to the Body, serves the Body… gives tithes and offerings as worship, and to serve the Body. You don’t pay to get your way… You give, to serve, to help, to love… There are no strings attached.

We give naturally. We give, expecting nothing in return. We give as a unified whole to support the mission, the purposes, ministries and activities… that the Bible establishes as good and right.

This is how we function.

The concept of an inactive church member is unbiblical. In the Bible, no such church member exists.

Everyone has a part. Everyone has a role. Everyone has a function. Everyone has abilities and love to give.

The ones who are at home, bed-ridden, or are not able to get out much… they still have purpose and a function in this body… as they pray, send cards, call people, and support the family of God in ways that they can.

There are those who function in this way here at this church… and they are a blessing to this church. They are doing what they can, with what they have… And God uses it.

We don’t all have the same gifts and abilities… And praise God we don’t! We need more than mouths. We need more than ears. We need more than hands and feet. We need them all.

And you will only be held accountable for what God has given you.

What are you doing with what God has given?

Are you treating the Church as a social club or as the Church?

Thomas Rainer, was the CEO and President of LifeWay Christian Resources does a lot of research. His estimate is that one-third, on average, one-third of churches are functioning members… Only 1 out of 3 gives and serves.

And he admits, that the number may be high. It could be less than this...

What a sad thought… A body with no functioning parts, or with a few functioning parts… We see people in wheel chairs, or people that are very limited… And we are saddened as they are being led around by another...

And that may be many churches today.

But what about me? What about you?

Will you pledge or commit to be a functioning member? Will you say, “Here I am, use me, send me… I will serve? I will minister. I will pray. I will clean. I will encourage. I will give. I will evangelize. I will study. I will seek to be a blessing to someone. I will reach out. I will call. I will send out cards. I will use my gifts and abilities to serve Christ and people as a member of this Church.

Will you ask these questions: Am I a functioning member? If not… Ask and follow through with this: How can I best serve my church?

Now go and do it.

I am called to be a functioning member.

I will be a functioning member.

Pray and Close.