I Am a Church Member--Functioning Church Member 11/23/15
by Rev. Zack | November 23, 2015
11/23/15I Am A Church Member---I will be a Functioning Church Member
CHURCH IS NOT A COUNTRY CLUB…I REPEAT, CHURCH IS NOT A COUNTRY CLUB!
Now that I have your attention, allow me to impose upon you a very important question! What does it mean to you to be a functioning church member? The unfortunate reality is that many people look at the church as a private enterprise. They view membership to the local church as having perks, privileges, and, prestige.
Have you ever heard any of these statements? “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 don’t do this program, I’ll withhold my check the church.” “I’ve been a member for over thirty years, so I have the right to get what I want!” And of course I am sure that there are more.
When we focus on the term Functioning Church Member; that entails a lot of important components. For instance; membership means that we are all necessary parts of the whole! Notice what I said…NECESSARY PARTS OF THE WHOLE! In other words, you are not the whole thing by yourself. My grandmother would often make the statement “I need you, you need me, and we all need the Lord”.
We are different but we all WORK TOGETHER! Wow!! When you are part of a country club you pay for others to do the work for you. Church membership, everyone has a role. It is imperative that everyone KNOW their role and operate in it. God did not call everyone to do everything but He did call everyone to do something!
Everything we say and do is based on a biblical foundation of love. I am reminded what the Apostle Paul wrote in First Corinthians 13. The Holy Spirit had to him write the following:
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ~1st Corinthians 13:1 NIV
Jesus put it like this—“They (the world) will know that you are my disciples because you love one another. Being a functioning church member is more than showing up on Sunday morning. It is a 7 day a week, 365 day a year job. As well, there is a difference in being a ‘Member’ versus a Disciple! ‘Members’ want to be served while Disciples are serving!
In closing, I would encourage us to take a deeper look at ourselves and ask the questions; Am I a Functioning Church Member? Am I clear on a where I should be in HIS church? If your answer is no, I encourage you to pray and seek divine guidance. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart do not lean to your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths!
The world has need of willing men
who wear the worker’s seal.
Come, help the good work move along;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
The Church has need of helping hands,
And hearts that know and feel.
The work to do is here for you;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
Then don’t stand idly looking on;
The fight with sin is real.
It will be long but must go on;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
Then work and watch and fight and pray
with all your might and zeal.
Push ev’ry worthy work along;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song,
We all have work; let no one shirk.
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
who wear the worker’s seal.
Come, help the good work move along;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
The Church has need of helping hands,
And hearts that know and feel.
The work to do is here for you;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
Then don’t stand idly looking on;
The fight with sin is real.
It will be long but must go on;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
Then work and watch and fight and pray
with all your might and zeal.
Push ev’ry worthy work along;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song,
We all have work; let no one shirk.
Put your shoulder to the wheel.
In His Service,
Rev. Zack
Rev. Zack
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