Nuggets #32

An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus
The Benefits of Membership
Becoming a member of Mosaic is a declaration that you are moving from being a consumer to being an investor; that you are joining not simply the community of Christ, but the cause of Christ. The motivation behind becoming a member is not what can be received but what can be given. And yet on a deeper level, membership is an invitation to genuine intimacy. When people become members, they are saying that they submit their lives to the spiritual authority of this community and welcome genuine accountability in their spiritual journeys. What once was our standard for leadership is now our standard for simple membership.

People who come to faith through Mosaic never have a problem with this standard of living. The greatest tension and difficulty comes from those who are accustomed to being members of churches without any expectations on their lives.

We have broken the membership standard into four basic areas of commitment for every person considering membership. The first is that they live a holy life, acknowledging that every person is imperfect and that there is a high likelihood we will all blow it at some time or another. This commitment entails that we be honest about where we are and that when we sin we come clean and trust the body of Christ to restore us to fellowship.

The second commitment is to be an active participant in ministry. This is a commitment to move beyond a spectator mentality to a participatory one. Involvement is understood-on a minimum level-to be a faithful worshipper in corporate celebration, to be actively involved in a small group committed to life transformation, and to find a particular place of service in which to use gifts and talents.

The third commitment area is in tithing. We ask every person who feels called to be a part of Mosaic to be a generous giver, and by generosity we mean to give 10 percent of our income and beyond.

An finally, the fourth commitment of all members is to live an evangelistic lifestyle. People commit to using their many gifts and unique personalities in building meaningful relationships with those who do not know Christ and, through a genuine expression of love, help others come to faith.

So up front, we ask all members to invest their passions, their service, their resources, and their relationships for the sake of the kingdom.

It's amazing how much people can accomplish if you'll simply have confidence in them and call them out to give God the very best of their lives.

How does your church handle membership? If you're a member, do you remember what you committed to? Are you often reminded from the pulpit, or do you just have a vague idea? If someone asked you what it took to become a member of your church, could you give them a full answer? Are you living out your commitment to your church as stated in your membership agreement? Does your church offer constant opportunities to become members, or every once in a while? Are those times consistent and predictable? I'd love to hear from you on the questions I pose each day. If you'd prefer to remain anonymous, you can email me at gshazenberg@sbcglobal.net.