Thom S. Rainer - I Am a Church Member: Discovering the Attitude that Makes the Difference

Acknowledgments

I t may not take a village to write a book, but there is really no such thing as solo authorship. So many people are a part of this book, and most of those people are indispensable parts of my life.

I love my family. I really do love my family. I love my wife Nellie Jo. I love my sons Sam, Art, and Jess. I love my daughters-in-law Erin, Sarah, and Rachel. And I love my grandchildren Canon, Maggie, Nathaniel, Harper, and Bren. I love my grandson Will, who is in heaven, and I cant wait to see him again. I mention my family first because they are first in my life. I could not accomplish anything, like writing a book, without the love and encouragement of my family. Did I mention that I really do love my family?

My life is so much richer because God led me to LifeWay Christian Resources. I am a most blessed man to serve alongside thousands of the greatest servant employees anywhere in the world. God is truly working through these men and women. I express specific gratitude to my super editors and friends, Jedidiah Coppenger and Jennifer Lyell. And I am ever grateful for the incredible leadership of Selma Wilson over B&H Publishing Group. I dont claim perfection in my leadership at LifeWay, but I must say that asking Selma to lead B&H was one of the smartest leadership moves I have made. Thanks also to Amy Jordan, my executive assistant, better known as Superwoman. Amy can manage any situation because she can manage me.

This book is not only dedicated to my wife, Nellie Jo; it is also dedicated to Brad Waggoner. Brad is the executive vice president of LifeWay. Let me state it simply: I could not lead LifeWay without the leadership of Brad Waggoner. I am so dependent upon his strategic mind, his voice of wisdom, and his ability to get to the heart of any issue. And to make our relationship even richer, Brad is one of my best friends in the world.

Ultimately, though, I give this book to the glory of God. It is a book about Christs Church. The Father so loved the world that He sent His Son to die for His Church. It is my prayer that this little tome will strengthen local congregations. And I pray that those who are members of these churches will see the incredible gift of belonging to the body of Christ.

Thank you for reading this book. Thank you for reading it prayerfully. And thank you for your willingness to be changed by the power of the Holy Spirit to be a more devoted and sacrificial member of the bride of Christ.

Other Books by Thom S. Rainer

The Millennials (coauthor)

Transformational Church (coauthor)

Simple Life (coauthor)

Essential Church (coauthor)

Vibrant Church (coauthor)

Raising Dad (coauthor)

Simple Church (coauthor)

The Unexpected Journey

The Unchurched Next Door

Surprising Insights from the Unchurched

Eating the Elephant (revised edition) (coauthor)

High Expectations

The Every Church Guide to Growth (coauthor)

The Bridger Generation

Effective Evangelistic Churches

The Church Growth Encyclopedia (coeditor)

Experiencing Personal Revival (coauthor)

Giant Awakenings

Biblical Standards for Evangelists (coauthor)

Eating the Elephant

The Book of Church Growth

Evangelism in the Twenty-first Century (editor)

Chapter 1

I Will Be a Functioning Church Member

I t was a big deal for this young boy living in the small Southern town. I didnt know what a country club was, but I knew one was coming to town. And it included a swimming pool, a dining area, and meeting rooms. The owners also promised to build a small golf course, a promise they would fulfill a couple of years later.

Now dont get the wrong impression. This country club was not the typical upscale clubs we often envision. It was really a small private enterprise trying to make a few bucks in a small town by offering a few amenities.

But I was overwhelmed. My parents were middle-class in income, so they could afford the small monthly fee. From my perspective, though, I had it made. I could now go to a swimming pool. I didnt know of anyone who had their own pool in town, so this amenity was exciting. I could order a burger from the dining area. And we could have birthday parties in the pool or the meeting rooms.

I began to learn a lesson. Membership means perks. Membership means privileges. Membership means others will serve me. Just pay the going rate, and you can have others taking care of you while you enjoy a life of leisure.

And, tragically, this understanding of membership is what many church members hold.

This is my church, so you have to play the music just the way I want it.

Look pastor, you need to remember who pays your salary.

If you dont do this program, Ill withhold my check to the church.

Ive been a member of this church for over thirty years, so I have a right to get what I want.

I dont pay good money to this church to listen to sermons that long.

Okay, you get the picture. Those unfortunately typical comments come from members of churches who have an unbiblical view of membership. Their view of membership is more aligned with country club membership.

For them, membership is about receiving instead of giving, being served instead of serving, rights instead of responsibilities, and entitlements instead of sacrifices. This wrongful view of membership sees the tithes and offerings as membership dues that entitle members to a never-ending list of privileges and expectations, instead of an unconditional cheerful gift to God.

So, what does the Bible say about church membership?

Im glad you asked.

Membership Means We Are All Necessary Parts of the Whole

There are a number of places in the New Testament where we can see a clear picture of church membership. One of the more voluminous sections is 1 Corinthians 12 to 14. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul explains the metaphor of the church being a body with many members. In 1 Corinthians 13, he established love as the central attitude and action all members should have. And in 1 Corinthians 14, he returns to the messed-up church at Corinth that has the concept of membership all wrong.

Some church leaders and members view membership as a modern business or organizational concept, so they reject the label as unbiblical. Membership, to the contrary, is very biblical.

The Bible explains members differently than secular culture. For example, look at the term in 1 Corinthians 12:2728: Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. And God has placed these in the church.

Do you get the difference? Members of a church comprise the whole and are essential parts of it. The apostle Paul would carry the body metaphor further and explain that members are individual parts of the body. Some are eyes; others are ears. Some are feet; still others are hands. That is why he concludes: For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many are one bodyso also is Christ (1 Cor. 12:12).

Membership Means We Are Different but We Still Work Together

With a country club membership you pay others to do the work for you. With church membership, everyone has a role or function. That is why some are hands, feet, ears, or eyes. We are all different, but we are necessary parts of the whole.

Each part, therefore, has to do its work, or the whole body suffers. There is a beautiful diversity in the midst of unity in church membership. The Bible makes it clear that if one part does not do its job, the whole body does not function well. But if one part does its job well, the whole body rejoices and is stronger: So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it (1 Cor. 12:26).