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On the Out of Ur blog they share Rick Warren's comments on the importance of commitment to the local church:
"Warren shot down the notion that membership isn't important as long as people attend the church. 'The difference between an attender and a member is the difference between living together and getting married. A lot of people want to date the church, but they don't want to get married. That is spiritual adultery.'"
Good stuff! Rick, can I use that as a blurb on the back of my book "Stop Dating the Church"? Read the full article. (Via Justin Taylor)
11 Comments
Our church doesn't even HAVE membership...and truth be told, it's one of the things I love about it. It is our dedication to Christ that keeps us together, not a covenant or pledge we have made to an organization.
he isn't talking about simply having your name on the role. it's about using your God given gifts to help further the growth of not only the church but those who make up the church. if you guys do that then you are more members than anyone who signs a piece of paper saying this is the church you attend.
Good quote.
Heather, I think you need to read the link to the article...
I just can't quite agree with that quote. The analogy of adultery and church membership simply doesn't work for me. If I'm going to marry someone, I'm going to date them first - probably for a long time. If I'm dating, that doesn't imply that we're "living together" - that seems to be where the analogy breaks down for me. Dating isn't sin - adultery is; and it's too serious and pervasive a sin in our culture for it to be used in a tenuous, at best, analogy.
That's not to say that I don't think that becoming a member of a church isn't important; I think it's vital for continued spiritual growth and greatly deepens our walk with God by joining in community.
On problems with the analogy: it's one thing to visit a certain local church to learn about it, meet the people, meet the leadership; to figure out if that would be a place that is a true church and the particular local expression to which you will join yourself to as a member. That could be called dating or courting. But saying that a certain church is your church without fully joining it as a properly functioning member (think arm or leg not Country Club) then you would be in a relationship somewhere between dating and marriage where you are claiming that particular church as your own, getting benefits from it, without actually committing yourself to it. Not only for your good but for it's edification. Through the good and the bad. That middle road relationship seems to be well described as spiritual adultery or unfaithfulness. In a good dating relationship you will be learning things but yet not deriving the full benefits that come with marriage whereas with adultery you are able to get many of the benefits of the marriage relationship without the commitment.
Josh, I have not yet read this book yet, my wife has when she was given it when she was "thinking" about leaving her old church and it was shoved in her face as proof she was not committed (but that is semantics and not the reason for my comment)...
I read the article and while I agree in theory that its good to be locked in and regular attendee with a local church, I have to agree with most of the comments in the article and agree that Rick is missing the point especially about commitment to the local church.
I love the point that your suppose to be committed to God and not the church. The only time Commitment (meaning a 'binding contract') is referenced in the bible is between you and God. God is not a building or an organisation...
Anyway I am sure you know this as i've read many of your past dating books (Mens leader & when I dated) and you always bring great balance in them and im sure 'dating the church' is the same.
Interesting quote. But where in the Bible does it mention church (as in, local church) membership? We are members of the Body of Christ, we are God's Bride/the Church, only as much as we are committed to Christ Jesus. This commitment could be evidenced by great fellowship with many of God's people or it could be evidenced by great persecution from the religious unto being shunned from religious organizations. I am concerned the greater danger is not in attending a church and not being committed to that church, but in being committed to a church or the rules or the leadership or the organization and programs or the people who make up the church and not to God -- I believe that is adultery.
Dear Nicole,
The New Testament assumes commitment to local churches in passages like Eph 4:15-16 that describe Christians joined together in relationship and each doing their part to build up the body, Hebrews 10:25 that exhorts Christians to meet together and 1 Cor. 5 where Paul instructs the church to put a sexually immoral man out of the church. Only a clearly defined body--with members--can remove someone from membership.
As to your concern that people be committed to an institution and not God, that is definitely something that we should avoid. But we can't use one potential mistake to keep us from obedience. We could use the same line of reasoning to never marry or have children because there is the potential to love them more than God. I think scripture calls us to join churches that are faithful to scripture and teaching the the gospel clearly--churches that help us to grow in our love for God.
Thanks for considering this. God bless,
Joshua
I do not think anyone disagrees with that comment Josh but its the point where people say you 'have to stay with the church' that is where people do not agree with.
I believe Rick Warren's comment was MEANT to evoke serious discussion and self-evaluation for those who are opposed to church membership, and is not meant to convey that non-membership is equivalent to marital infidelity.
As a pastor (though only for 11 years), I have found it very clear that the local, organized, body of believers could not exist except for the dedication of the committed few.
Covenant relationships, which I believe scripture teaches should exist among believers, are key to fulfilling the Great Commission through the local church. This covenant relationship and implied responsibilities should be a reflection the way Christ is faithful to us in bad times as well as good.
Seldom have a seen an individual who refuses to become a 'member' (but desires to enjoy all other benfits of the local body) to be faithful in attendance, tithing, or servanthood.
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