How to be a Functioning Church Member
Dear reader,
A few months back I became a member of my local church.
Nothing changed within me personally or even outwardly, and that began to eat away at me. “Why had I not begun to live differently?”
Most of you have heard my opinions on my little soap box about churches being a good step away from what God has designed them to look like. Amidst that small pinch of bitterness and dissatisfaction for the local church, I’d learn to do my best to push everything I don’t like about The Church’s recent approach and strategies over my life into a small closet and lock the door.
I can be a fantastic whiner and complainer, and if I don’t view the contents of that hypothetical closet I am normally fine.
My pastor approached me a week ago and handed me a book.
“I Am A Church Member” by Thomas S. Rainer.
He knows I am completely addicted to owning/reading books so I took it from him.
“We were supposed to get this to you back when you were first brought into membership, but I dropped the ball on that one.”
I laughed and extended him grace. As soon as I returned home I began to flip through the pages of this book.
Y’all.
I wasn’t ready for the heart surgery God had in store for me.
I had to go back to my closet and take out my bitterness and dissatisfaction and lay it down before God. He had so much He wanted me to know.
He knows my views.
He knows what I desire.
He’s also chosen to not allow me to be a part of it yet.
But for the time being, I am to be faithful and love and serve my local church no matter my negative opinions of it.
The chapters of the book touched on many topics, but it focused in on six things.
Being a Functioning Member
Being a Unifying Member
Not Letting My Church Be About My Preferences and Desires
Praying for my Church Leaders
Leading My Family to Be Healthy Members
Treasuring Church Membership as a Gift
The book really hit me in chapter three. I’ve grown up in churches, I’ve visited so many churches, I’d served in more ministry capacities than I could count.
But when the book said along the lines of “The Church is there for you to serve the people around you. Don’t you dare make it about what you want to get out of it.” I gently put the book down.
Wait. But aren’t I supposed to learn and grow?
Yes.
Aren’t I supposed to worship in the ways I want to?
Not necessarily.
What if their programs don’t work around my preferences or timing?
God doesn’t want programs. He wants relationships to be built, you must be willing to sacrifice your time and energy to be with God’s Family.
Aren’t I supposed to be comfortable?
No.
What if the church doesn’t fit my mold or my needs?
The mold of the Church that Christ laid out is a loving family that worships God together, loves each other and the community around them, and are constantly serving each other with their gifts and abilities for the sake of God’s Kingdom.
The bible calls The Church a Body.
A body has many many many parts in it.
There are external and internal parts. Every part needs to be functioning for the body to thrive as it was designed to.
I can say that I have had my seasons and chapters in my story where I was choosing to not function with the body of Christ. I am rebellious by nature, sadly against His Church and the traditions they have stuck to a bit too tightly in my opinion.
I want to be a functioning ear. (I cannot say that is the body part I am supposed to represent, but that’s what I’ve chosen.) I need to be listening for the sake of The Church.
To hear what God says and speak it to his people. To really hone in on scripture and to boldly preach forth the word on His account.
If I hear there is a car is coming as we The Church are walking into the road It’s my responsibility to tell the brain to stop before we get extremely hurt. Every body part is necessary. God gave us all gifts for a reason.
I’m preaching to myself in this letter.
I haven’t been pulling my weight as an ear.
Sometimes yes. But a majority of the time no.
I am laying down everything that is holding me back from serving and loving The Church. Time commitments, and comfort are going out the window. I want to be active.
This letter might strike a cord.
Good. Let it.
Ask God what is holding you back from serving and loving His Bride.
It’s not an option for those who are sealed with His Spirit.
Those who are a part of His Church.
It’s a requirement.
Sincerely Your Sometimes Functional Ear,
-Mitchell
