Why Church Membership Matters

January 26, 2023 | by Stephen G Law | 4 Min Read | 0 Comment

When I hear the word, “membership,” I immediately think of a Costco membership. I love Costco. I love their super-wide, greasy pizza, their strawberry smoothies, and delicious churros. I love making sure I get a free sample at every single sample kiosk they have in the store. I love coming out of the doors with mounds of paper towels and toilet paper overflowing from my shopping cart, feeling as if I’ve just saved big bucks. Then there's the gas at Costco that's crazy-cheap! Costco… what’s not to love?

For all my love for Costco, it might surprise you that I don’t have a Costco membership. I’ve decided the annual membership fee isn't worth it for our family. It's too far away from our house. Do we really need a year supply of frozen pretzels sitting in our freezer? I've done the cost-benefit analysis and decided—nah, we'll pass.

When it comes to becoming a member of anything (a gym, AAA, a fraternity or sorority, etc.), most of us take a similar approach. We do a cost-benefit analysis, and we decide if it's worth it. We ask ourselves, does membership benefit me? If you’re like me, most of the time it doesn’t. We often carry this negative connotation of “membership” into our decision of committing to a local church. Many of the people I talk to that attend the church I pastor are hesitant, even resistant, to becoming church members.

However, church membership is a bit different than other types of “memberships.” Actually, it’s a lot different. Committing to a local church does have both a personal benefit and cost like other memberships. Yet the significance of committing to a local body of believers is deeply rewarding spiritually. The impact of church membership never expires. Being a church member makes a tangible difference in the lives of the people in your church.

1. Church membership glorifies God.

Our highest aim and chief motivation as Christians is to bring God the most glory. Our desire is to live our lives in such a way that God is more greatly treasured in the earth. How can we bring God glory?

We can glorify God by becoming a part of his growing, diverse-yet-unified church. The early church in the first century preached the gospel to people who did not know Jesus. People responded in faith to their message. These new converts were immediately baptized and added to the church. Take for example, when Peter preached the gospel to Jews from every nation on Pentecost.

⁴¹So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:41

Picture this for a moment. In one moment, men and women, young and old, rich and poor, Jews from different nations, chose to respond to the message that Jesus is Lord. Luke, the author of Acts, writes 3000 were added in that moment. Added to what, you might ask? To the church. Those 3000 new believers set aside their differences to submit to Jesus and to become a part of a diverse-yet-unified church. Like that day of Pentecost 2000 years ago, becoming a member of a church testifies that the gospel still has the power to save! It shows that the church of Jesus is still growing. Your commitment proves his church is still made up of a unified group of believers of all different backgrounds. The result? God is glorified!

2. Church membership shares the love of Christ.

As a parent of four young children, I'm constantly teaching my children how to share. When I teach them to share, I'm showing my kids the blessing they can be to their siblings. The toys they have in their hands can also bring their friends happiness. They don't lose anything by sharing; they can actually grow in joy by allowing those around them to share in the delight they are experiencing.

The early church experienced the shared joy of following Jesus as one body.

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47

Church membership is the pathway to this deep communal sharing of Christ. It's choosing to use your time, talents, and treasure to benefit those in the church. It's a commitment to put other's highest good above your own in tangible ways. In essence, it's a pledge to share the love of Christ with those whom God has called you to serve.

3. Church membership benefits you!

Church membership glorifies God and blesses others, but it also benefits you!

Six years ago, my wife and I were told that the baby girl in my wife's womb wasn't going to make it. Our daughter was diagnosed with severe hydrocephalus, excess fluid in the head, that all but guaranteed she would die shortly after birth.

We were devastated. We needed support. We needed to feel God's love in a tangible way.

Our church's response was overwhelming. Our pastors met with us and prayed with us for a miracle. Church members organized a meal train for our family. A team of prayer warriors prayed for her all night at the hospital on the day of delivery.

God did a miracle, and our daughter is a healthy girl today. When we had no strength, God carried us through the tangible love of his church.

All of us need care at some point. Relationships get "stuck." Jobs get lost. Sickness. Heartache. Death. Life has a way of wearying our souls. We face trials where we need the care of our pastors and fellow church members. Becoming a church member allows for God to express his care through those he's called us to. Since our time, energy, and resources are limited, membership helps define who we are called to love in this sacrificial way. While we ought to show love to everyone we encounter, even our enemies, we have a unique call to love the people God has joined us to (John 13:34, Rom 12:10, 1 Pet 4:8, 1 John 4:7).

This is the beautiful mystery of any kind of healthy relationship. When you seek to glorify God in your relationship first and share the love of Christ in sacrifice, you experience a joy that surpasses any individual pursuit.

You choosing to become a member of your local church matters. It matters, because if you’re like me, you want your life to bring God the most glory. Becoming a part of a local outpost of God’s growing, diverse family honors him. It matters because there are people in your local church who are waiting to experience a part of Jesus’ love through you. Through a meal you drop off when a member is grieving or through serving on a Sunday morning, your church will tangibly feel Christ’s love through your commitment. It matters because there’s a joy you were destined to experience as a part of your local church. You were created to go through the valleys of life with others; you were designed to rejoice over God’s blessings with your church family.

So, what are you waiting for?

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About the Author

Stephen G Law

Described as a faithful pastor, insightful author, and loyal friend, Stephen G. Law has become a trusted voice of faith in today's culture. He is the lead pastor at Grace Covenant Church Capitol Hill in the Washington, D.C. and co-founder of Be A Man.