Does Membership really matter? We live in an age of skepticism and individualism. So naturally we are skeptical of the Church and see little if any reason to sacrifice our individual freedoms by placing ourselves under the authority of a church, imperfect and flawed as it is. So is it really necessary? ABSOLUTELY.

When you feel sick, beyond your ability to cure yourself, you willingly trust the authority of a doctor to know what's wrong and help. You accept their diagnosis of the problem and in the remedy they recommend. When it comes to the church, however, we balk at the idea of submitting our freedom to the wisdom, guidance and the authority of the Church. There are, I think, three basic reasons why healthy people need the Church. 

(1) We know we're sick, because we've seen what Healthy looks like and we're nothing like it. We've all known someone who inspires us by their gentleness, generosity, gratitude and humility. They give of themselves easily, they walk through life with a smile on, finding ways to encourage and inspire others to live for something greater than themselves. They possess a warmth that we admire and yet find lacking in ourselves and others. Why is that?

When we look around us, we find our culture tends to idolize people like Donald Trump, LeBron James or even Miley Cyrus. Yet are they really the best of the best of what we can or should become? We're sick and we know it!

(2) We're tired of trying to heal ourselves and are ready for some real change. Until we come to the end of ourselves (some call it Holy Discontent) and we're ready for real life change, the church is just another distraction in an already overwhelmed schedule. When the church is just another distraction, it's judged on it's entertainment value. For example, "I didn't get much out the service today," is a common way letting others know you're still doing life on your own terms. The Church can't provide a remedy to people who don't think they're sick yet.

(3) We trust the testimony of people who have been made better in and through the church. Every hospital I've ever been too has been filled with sick people. Why is that? Well I suppose this is where people have receive the necessary treatment, care and a diagnosis for what ails them. We know people who were sick and are doing better. Churches are filled with people who want to get better, receive and give forgiveness and have a purpose worth living for. But they're not all at the same place in that process. Not everyone is a saint, but they are intentional about getting there.