On Faith and Capital: The Cost of Church Membership?

In sharp contrast to religious dogma or orthodoxy, most people are generally interested in a “social bonding” that makes living safe from harm.  Jean-Jacques Rousseau coined the term “Civil Religion” in chapter 8, book 4 of The Social Contract, to describe what he regarded as the moral and spiritual foundation essential for any modern society. In his book, Rousseau outlines the simple dogmas of the civil religion:

1. life to come,
2. the reward of virtue and the punishment of vice, and
3. the exclusion of religious intolerance.

In my observation, the simple dogmas outlined by Rousseau appropriately reflect the extent of what the majority of Christians are willing to commit to. However, Church membership is a different matter and one that is worth exploring. In the first instance, new converts and inactive church members want to assure themselves of a life to come and are willing to participate in the means of grace that meet this requirement – baptism, communion, confession/repentance, confirmation, etc. Beyond this, there is desire to avoid punishment or the wrath of God, but this desire is generally expressed at times of great sorrow or natural disasters. When life returns to “normal” religious commitment subsides. Finally, many people (Christians included) prefer to see themselves as “spiritual” and tolerant of other religious beliefs.

Church membership is much more than Rousseau’s civil religion. In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Church at Philipi (3:17-21), he speaks of a citizenship in heaven. Similarly, in Apostle Paul’s letter to the Church at Ephesus (2:19-20), he reminds us that we are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household. This is to suggest that Church membership both links us to the glorious past of faithful members who are at rest and a magnanimous future that is yet to be birthed. The future is both communal and individual which necessitates that we give up selfish motives and ambitions in exchange for the prayers and the shared hope of the community to which we have joined. Thus, the greatest cost of membership is self denial – not my will, but God’s will be done.

Jesus taught the first disciples to seek the kingdom of God first and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. The things that Jesus is speaking of are basic human needs and yet we are told to focus on God’s agenda. It is my belief that God realizes man’s limitation in meeting their own needs or each others needs without His Spirit and His Laws. Jurgen Moltmann argues in his lecture Becoming Human in a New Community, that the “idea of church” is in essence a “social community.” To this end, joining a church is ultimately about seeking a community of faith in which one can become fully human. When this is not achieved, it is the failure of church members to see parity in their mutual quest to become human. All of humanity has sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Unfortunately many churches have suffered a fracture in their social communities due to racial and ethnic differences, and the fractures continue to exist because of spiritual blindness. We see each other as “other” or “foreign” rather than as “brothers” and “sisters” in Christ. Thus, another great cost of membership is the necessity to become “born again” – unless we become like little children we cannot enter into heaven.

Church membership can be very challenging as we are called to care for our neighbor and love our enemy, while accepting the reality of our own unmet human needs. For many this means balancing family, career, finances and personal time. This tension is exacerbated further during to times of great sorrow and financial distress. It is understandable that people choose to withdraw from membership to gain control of their life; however, the opposite is likely to happen. Instead, it is better to bring your “whole” life under submission. Rather than limiting your faith to Rousseau’s simple dogmas, consider becoming “Holy.” Church Membership prescribes a comprehensive way of life and while there is no need to quarrel with others about their beliefs, there is a narrow path we are called to follow. It is true that Jesus paid the price for our salvation, but the hidden cost of Church Membership is becoming holy. In the Book of Hebrews (10:25), the Apostle Paul reminds us “not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Finally, here some practical tips to keep Church Members engaged and encouraged:

• Celebrate volunteers through some big events. But do a number of things in between those events to celebrate and thank them, too.

• Hosts ministry fairs, which give congregants glimpses into the various ministries–and volunteer opportunities–available at the church.

• The senior pastor should recognize volunteers and talk about the vision of the church, and the integral role a volunteer plays in the work to fulfill that vision. It is vital to show the cause, and the community served (or built) through them.

• Emphasis should be placed on developing people into volunteers through personal invitation, training, and then the assignment of a duty. Providing specific start dates and finish dates.

• Engage directly, and face to face, with each volunteer on a regular basis and offering them the chance to say no–or to step away from their duties for a break.

• Encourage members to start new ministries!

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