**MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH**

MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH

     When we go to the Old testament, the fundamental responsibility of a Christian is membership. At this time the followers of Christ were named Christians not because they were workers, not because they held any post in the church, but because they followed Christ with their heart.

      In the Old testament, the members were the ones who served the apostles who catered for the church. That is, they took care of each other; at that time, there were no workers. 

In this generation, people now see it more like a mere title.I have seen a lot of members work for God more zealously than the so called workers.The members are those who help the poor, the sick, the less privileged. In short, they are the ones that collectively considered the welfare of the church.
I've heard alot of people say that : 'without workers, the pastor is nothing', 'without workers, the activities of the church can't go on fine'.
I want to say that's not true.
When the members are filled with a lot of motivation and inspiration to work in accordance with the pastor or prophets and serve the Lord, workers just merely work for God. Most of them don't serve God with their whole heart.
When you take a good look at the Bible in the book of Hebrews 10:24-25, it says; 'consider yourself proven unto love and great works not forsaking the assembly of one another but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near'.
Looking at this passage, Apostle Paul emphasized on the relevance of membership and love amongst each other.

         In churches nowadays, amidst workers especially, they don't show love to one another. They handle the work of God like it's some office job. 

Before you step up to work for God in any department in the church, you must be led by the spirit. If you are familiar with what I'm trying to say, you will see that most people just move to the working unit of the church without any spiritual guiding or leading.
For instance, most people feel they can join the choir department just because they can sing. No, it doesn't go with your talent alone. You have to do the work with spirit. But it's so sad to see people even being forced to work.
They have to do it with the spirit!
Most workers haven't even been baptized,whereby we have thousands of members that have all spiritual requirements and still serve God still being a member. They serve the Lord truthfully and more wholeheartedly. It's not necessary you join the work force of the church.

          Let's look at the Bible in the book of Romans 12:5. It says; "So we being many are one body in Christ and one *member* one of another." 

This passage is calling everyone in the church a member of one body in Christ. If we go down to verse 6, it says; "Having gifts according to the grace that is given to us whether prophecy,let us prophesy according to proportion of faith." This is a message to the workers.

       I can boldly say that, most workers no longer use their gifts as of to the glory of God. Most pastors are now comfortable listening to self appraisal from people knowing fully well that all glory should bounce back to God almighty.
     I'm not saying that workers are useless or should be scrapped off from the church; No! All I'm saying is that, the importance of membership shouldn't be disputed. They are as important as the workers also. Infact all department and everyone in church should be treated equally as to one faith of whom who called us.