Required Reading for Every Church Member

I am a Church Member is a brief (less than 100 pages) but sober admonition by Thom Rainer to take church membership seriously.  It originated from a post on the author’s blog that received overwhelming comments indicating appreciation for its sentiments.  It is not deep theologically, yet it is profoundly direct in the simple message that it conveys. 

I’ve heard some pastors extoll the benefits of having guest speakers in their church because “they can say things that pastors cannot.”  In a similar manner, this book is the letter that every pastor would like to write, but refrains from doing so out of job security.  On the other hand, it avoids a “holier-than-thou” tone by citing relatable examples and stories that strike familiar chords with common church members.  The overall tone is one that gains rapport without sacrificing honesty.

Perhaps its most admirable trait is that it is written by someone that clearly cares about the Church and its future.  The preface makes two promises to readers that take the material seriously: 1) “You will likely have a new or renewed attitude about your church”; and 2) “Your church will begin to change.”  Rainer is convinced that healthy church members make healthy churches.

The book is comprised of six short chapters that can be read quickly.  The end of each chapter includes a pledge for the reader to sign and date, as well as discussion questions for group study.  The prevailing attitude Rainer attempts to discredit is the “country club” or “entitlement” mentality that is prevalent to some degree in almost every church.  In the first chapter he gives a clear definition of the word “member” as it is cited in 1 Corinthians 12.  He calls this “functional membership,” and sets it as being directly opposed to “country-club membership.”

The following chapters utilize this distinction as a foundation and address the role of the church member in fostering unity, keeping personal preferences in check, praying for church leadership, leading family in healthy membership, and seeing church membership as a gift.   

The book’s greatest strength is that it manages to convey an honest and compelling challenge that every pastor longs to see taken seriously.  In addition, it is written it in way that is relatable and not terribly offensive to the average church-goer.  It also encourages its readers to see its message in Scripture for themselves.  People should not feel threatened to use it as a book study or as a supplement to a church-wide emphasis.

Its weakness lies in the fact that the central metaphor it speaks against (church membership as a country-club mentality) is not original.  Readers may see this in the preface and assume that the book has little original thought to offer.  In a sense, this is true.  It is not the message that is unique; rather, it is the accessible way in which it is presented.

Any minster will find his/her head nodding in agreement throughout the book.  So will many dedicated church members that are already practicing most or all of the concepts it presents.  The challenge for the pastor and staff of any church that decides to use the book or make it available as a resource will be finding a unique and compelling way to present it. 

Some brief suggestions that could be considered include:

- Using it as a supplement to a church-wide emphasis and challenge.

- Incorporating it into a new membership class.

- Giving it as a gift to visitors or new members.

- Holding brown-bag lunch discussion centered around it for several weeks. 

- Utilizeing its principles in small-group or Sunday School curriculum.