I was talking with one of the associate ministers from the church yesterday and he pique my interest in the idea of Membership vs. Discipleship. I began to ponder the question in my mind and the question emerged, “Are members disciples? And are disciples’ members?” If you are a member of a church does that mean you are a disciple of Christ? If you are a disciple does that mean that you need to be a member of a local church?
Before we began let’s look at the difference, if any, between membership and discipleship. Membership is the joining or uniting of God’s local church to fellowship, train, evangelize and worship with other believers. The local church is a part of the Universal church. Discipleship is following Jesus Christ as He is the Master and Teacher. Discipleship is learning and cultivating your life to be more like Jesus.
We are on this earth to continue the mission that Jesus left for us: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” We can’t do this on our own, nor are we expected to. God tells us to work together with the Christians He has placed in our lives to bring His healing and transformation in to the life of the world. His plan of redemption involves the church working in UNITY to reach the people around.
If I am a member of a church that means I am striving to become a disciple which then means I am working to make disciples. Which then means that discipleship comes from the training that is offered from the body of Christ which is His church. We should not belittle the term “membership” because it should mean more than just a name on the roll. Membership means that I am an active and participating member of the local church to which I have committed my time, gifts and finances to.
The writer of Hebrews states in chapter 10 that we are to not forsake the assembly of ourselves together. If I am a disciple that means that it is not an isolation from others but a unified effort to grow together in the grace of God.
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That is a great outline on the purpose behind membership and how it relates to discipleship. The concern I have is that if this is the intention, why is it that 10% of the members do 90% of the work. And, of that work how much of it is church work vs the work of the church. I feel the term membership is questioned, because we have too many members doing church work. Work that keeps the lights on, work that benefits the already saved, and work that does not promote Jesus.
But, to your point membership should lead to discipleship, and that would give way to doing the true work of the church. Evangelizing, preaching, and teaching the lost what must I do to be saved. Good Read!!