6 Reasons Why Church Membership Matters
“Why bother with church membership?”
We’ve been asked the question before. Sometimes it’s said with genuine curiosity—“So explain to me what membership is all about.” Other times it’s said with a tinge of suspicion—“So tell me again, why do you think I should become a member?”—as if joining the church automatically signed you up to tithe by direct deposit.
For many Christians membership sounds stiff, something you have at your bank or the country club, but too formal for the Church. Even if it’s agreed that Christianity is not a lone-ranger religion, that we need community and fellowship with other Christians, we still bristle at the thought of officially joining a Church. Why all the hoops? Why box the Holy Spirit into member/non-member categories? Why bother joining a local Church when I’m already a member of the
universal Church? Some Christians, because of church tradition or church baggage, may not be convinced of Church membership no matter how many times “member” actually shows up in the New Testament. But many others are open to hearing the justification for something they’ve not thought much about.
Here are just a few reasons why church membership matters.
In joining a Church, you make visible your commitment to Christ and his people
Membership is one way to raise the flag of faith. You state before God and others that you are part of this local body of believers. It’s easy to talk in glowing terms about the invisible Church—the body of all believers near and far, living and dead—but it’s in the visible church that God expects you to live out your faith.
Sometimes I think that we wouldn’t all be clamouring for community if we had actually experienced it. Real fellowship is hard work, because most people are a lot like us—selfish, petty, and proud. But that’s the body God calls us to.
How many of Paul’s letters were written to individuals? Only a handful, and these were mostly to pastors. Most of his letters were written to a local body of believers. We see the same thing in Revelation. Jesus spoke to individual congregations in places like Smyrna, Sardis, and Laodicea. The New Testament knows no Christians floating around in “just me and Jesus” land.
Believers belong to churches.
Making a commitment makes a powerful statement in a low-commitment culture
Many bowling leagues require more of their members than our Churches. Where this is true, the Church is a sad reflection of its culture. Ours is a consumer culture where everything is tailored to meet our needs and satisfy our preferences. When those needs aren’t met, we can always move on to the next product, or job, or spouse.
Joining a church in such an environment makes a counter-cultural statement. It says “I am committed to this group of people and they are committed to me. I am here to give, more than get.”
Even if you will only be in town for a few years, it’s still not a bad idea to join a Church. It lets your home Church (if you are a student) know that you are being cared for, and it lets your present know that you want to be cared for here.
But it’s not just about being cared for, it’s about making a decision and sticking with something the new generation, with its oppressive number of choices, finds difficult. We prefer to date the Church—have her around for special events, take her out when life feels lonely, and keep her around for a rainy day. Membership is one way to stop dating Churches and marry one.
We can be overly independent
In the West, it’s one of the best and worst things about us. We are free spirits and critical thinkers. We get an idea and run with it. But who’s running with us? And are any of us running in the same direction? Membership states in a formal way, “I am part of something bigger than myself. I am not just one of three hundred individuals. I am part of a body.”
Church membership keeps us accountable
When we join a Church, we are offering ourselves to one another to be encouraged, rebuked, corrected, and served. We are placing ourselves under leaders and submitting to their authority (Heb. 13:7). We are saying, “I am here to stay. I want to help you grow in godliness. Will you help me to do the same?”
St Ignatius of Antioch, in his Epistle to the Smyrnaeans, writes:
See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the catholic (universal) Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptise or to celebrate a love-feast; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid.
Joining the church will help your pastor and elders be more faithful shepherds
Hebrews 13:7 says “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.” That’s your part as “laypeople”. Here’s our part as leaders: “They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.” As a pastor, he takes his responsibility very seriously before God to watch care for souls. At almost every meeting of presbyters, they are instructed to “seek to determine whether any members of the congregation are in need of special care regarding their spiritual condition and/or not making faithful use of the means of grace.” This is hard enough to do in a church like ours where there is constant turnover, but it’s even harder when we don’t know who is really a part of this flock.
To give just one example, we try to be diligent in following up with people who haven’t been at our church for a while. This is a challenge. But if you never become a member, we can’t tell if you are really gone, because we might not be sure if you were ever here! It’s nearly impossible for the clergy to shepherd the flock when they don’t know who really considers them their shepherds.
Joining the church gives you an opportunity to make promises
When someone become a member at Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, he makes promises to pray, give, serve, attend worship, accept the spiritual guidance of the church, obey its teachings, and seek the things that make for unity, purity, and peace. We ought not to make these promises lightly. They are solemn vows. And we must hold each other to them. If you don’t join the church, you miss an opportunity to publicly make these promises, inviting the elders and the rest of the body to hold you to these promises-which would be missing out on great spiritual benefit, for you, your leaders, and the whole church.
Membership matters more than most people think
As a baptised Armenian, you recognise the significant role the Church plays in your family’s life and want to belong to, and maintain the tradition of the Church. Register and get involved in the administration of the parish and have a vote in the decision-making process.
- Come to Church and worship with us on Sundays.
- Become a dues-paying member and let your voice be heard.
- Join the Ladies’ Guild, our organisation needs your input!
- Help out at the Altar, Choir, Office or around the church – there is a job for everyone.
- Need help with fundraising, i.e. Bazaar, Quiz night, Pilgrimages – there is a job for everyone.
- Join our Communications team – we could use some more hands in getting the WORD out.
- Run for the Parish Council – YOU have the opportunity and responsibility to help us create a
new future. It doesn‘t work if we wait for someone else to do it. May God bless all who have built the
foundation of our beautiful house of worship. We must all strive to leave our imprint on the legacy
of St. Yeghiche Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church.
Sign up, meet your Pastor and Parish Council Members, and join St Yeghiche Armenian church Parish. We look forward to welcoming you as registered Parish Members and enjoying your input in our Parish Life
Please find below the parish membership form, which can be accepted by email or in person: