FROM THE TOP
LELAND ACKER chreporter@mediactr.com
The longer I pastor a church, the more I notice that most people view church like their American Express card, "Membership has its privileges."

People I have never seen visit one Sunday. I make the mistake of saying, "I'm so glad you visited with us today," only to be met with "I am a member here."

This could explain why a portion of my seminary training was used to teach me how to be an effective leader, how to work well with people, how to keep people happy and how to be a dynamic speaker.

Or why when I attend a seminar, they are teaching me to "meet people's needs."

I need to learn how to better preach so that people "get something out of my sermons." Some people complain that "They didn't get anything out of worship today." (I don't hear these comments at Denson Springs, but I have heard them in other places.)

I have a shocking revelation for everyone. Church is not about you! The purpose of the church is not to meet your needs, to make you happy or even to make you feel important.

That being said, church members are to encourage and exhort each other (Hebrews 10:23-25). Church members are to pray for one another and minister to one another (James 5). There are a number of responsibilities church members have to one another, but the purpose of the church is not to feed your ego.

What is the purpose of the church? The purpose of the church (created by Christ) is in the Great Commission in Matthew 28.

We are to Go, make disciples, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost then teach them whatsoever things Christ has commanded us.

You join a church to serve, not be served. Jesus said in Matthew 20:25-28, "Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and give His life a ransom for many."

Want privileges and prestige? Go join a country club. Want to serve Christ? Join a church. You see church membership is not like American Express. No, our slogan of church should be "Membership has its responsibilities." But make no mistake, those responsibilities are rewarding.