The Meaning of Church Membership

 “…the Son of Man didn’t come to be served but rather to serve and to give his life to liberate many people.” 
Matthew 20:28 (CEB)

A note on the blog series: We live in a time when people are less institutional, less inclined to join organizations. There are multiple reasons why, some better than others. Where does that leave churches, though?  Why should people even consider joining a church?  Membership in a church, I would humbly suggest, is different than membership at a country club or a charitable non-profit.  Church membership, in its truest form, is about being part of a covenant community where people promise to model the way of God’s love and grace together, through practices like prayer, being present with and for one another, sharing gifts and resources, serving others, and engaging the world by taking a stand for love and justice. This article explores the membership promise/practice of service. 

In almost twenty-five years as a pastor, the sermon I recall getting the most response from (both negative and positive) is one I preached here at Christ Church United Methodist, early in my time, where I said something to the effect that the Church is not a buffet and the purpose of faith is not simply to be fed. These words struck a chord with some and a nerve with others. Still, I stand by these words today.

What I did not mean by this sermon was that we never receive anything from the church or that Christians shouldn’t grow in faith through God’s grace, which we freely receive.  What I did mean was that faith is never just a self-serving endeavor, it leads to a posture of working and caring beyond ourselves.  Getting past self-interest and focus to give ourselves away for God and others.  In essence, to be Christian means to serve.  A Christianity that is not about denying self to serve others is a false gospel.

I think this is what Jesus is getting at when he says he didn’t come to earth to be served, but rather to serve others…to give himself away in the name of love.  This core trait of Jesus explains why service is at the heart of a Christian life, why it is part our membership promises.  We covenant to serve God, each other, and the world in the name of Jesus, who came to serve us.  If service is the chosen way of Jesus, then it must be our chosen way, too.

Service, though, does not begin with action.  It begins in the heart.  Service is not just doing nice things.  It is doing them from a place of deep love.  Notice how Jesus constantly correlates a person’s relationship with God to how much they love others…neighbor, enemy, children, tax-collectors, sinners, etc.  We can do good things, but if it is not from a place of love, something important is missing. 

Love is recognizing the image of God in another person, seeing them as a beloved child of God.  When our work of service is done for others because we recognize this truth, the act becomes a way of upholding basic human value and worth.  It becomes holy. 

Without such love, any act of service can easily become about making people feel dependent or less than.  It can become self-serving, making us look impressive to others because of our charity.  Love, though, binds people together in a way that is holy.  It is where the image of God meets in the one serving and the one being served, and both know they are held by an even greater love. 

To be part of a Church family/community is to be a person of service.  This is who we covenant to become; a person who looks beyond self to God and others in the name of love.  Whether our service is to others in the church (singing in the choir, serving as an usher, leading an administrative committee) or in the world (serving meals to food insecure persons, visiting the sick, hurting or dying, teaching children, advocating for the marginalized and vulnerable), service is essential to following in the way of Jesus. 

A heart of service does not mean we should try to do everything, but it does mean we can do something out of great love for God and others.  That is one of promises God asks us to keep.

Together we are the hands and feet of Jesus,

Brett

If God is calling you to become a member of Christ Church United Methodist, we would love to share this discipleship life with you.  Please visit Christ Church UM Membership for more information and next steps.