A troubling trend of our day among Christians is the practice of attending a church without joining a church. First, let me qualify what I am thinking by attending. Attending is the practice of going to a church or more popular in our day, multiple churches, without considering membership. Obviously, one would want to go to a church for several weeks to learn about the church and get to know their belief’s and practices before committing to membership. However, those who are simply in the habit of attending have no intention of membership. They come; they go. Why is this? I have given some thought to this phenomenon and am sure that there are more capable and articulate views than mine but here are my thoughts.
This practice of attending removes accountability. That is a dreaded word because it flies in the face of our relentless pursuit of individualism. As long as I am in the attending practice, I am not accountable to anyone. No one can expect anything of me because, after all, I am not a member. Not only can nothing be expected of me neither can anyone say anything to me about my lifestyle practices and choices. If I am in the practice of “attending” I can come and go. I have no vital connection to the local church. If I am attending but have no plans toward membership I can fall in sin and have nobody to come rescue me. I have not committed myself to a local church or they to me. To borrow from a sports analogy, I may believe in the sport and like the team but when I “attend only” I am really saying that I would rather not wear the uniform.
However, when I join a church that all changes. I become accountable to others and others now have a Biblical mandate to admonish me. The New Testament is very clear on this…”And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.” (Romans 15:14) Accountability brings me under the protective umbrella of the church body and the care of godly leaders. Accountability to a local church through membership says that I’m on your team and I want to wear the uniform. To use another analogy-I am not just along for the ride in the boat. I want to use my gifts and my resources to help row the boat. Those that are along for the ride usually have no problem abandoning the boat when storms are on the horizon. Why shouldn’t they? They have no sense of accountability to others. It is much easier to find another boat.
Here is my plea. Once you have found a church that preaches/teaches the gospel, is committed to helping you mature and wants to take the gospel to the ends of the earth-“get in the boat with them!” Make yourself accountable to that local church. If you are going to play on the team, wear the uniform. Think about it.
Pastor Chuck
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