This is why joining a church—yes, becoming a member—is an important step to take. The Bible teaches that “we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:5). Even further, the Bible says that, as a Christian, “you are members of God’s very own family… and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian” (Ephesians 2:19).
That last verse holds three key truths: first, that the church is a family; second, that God expects Christians to be members of a church family; and third, that a Christian without a church family is a contradiction.
Not only does becoming a member of a local church community express obedience to the Bible, but it also moves us into a position of committed participation. It presents an opportunity to “step out of the stands” and publicly assert our commitment to Christ and to a specific local faith community. In this sense, membership can be one of the most significant and defining moments in your spiritual life. Yet while membership in a church brings you into the new community, it is only the entrance. The power of relational life must still be seized.
Think about your answer to this question: If two horses can pull 9,000 pounds, how many pounds can four horses pull? If you thought 9,000 pounds, you were wrong. If you thought 18,000 pounds, you were wrong. The answer is that while two horses can pull 9,000 pounds, four horses can pull more than 30,000 pounds. Now if that doesn’t make sense, it’s because you haven’t been introduced to the concept of synergy.
Synergy is the energy or force that is generated through the working together of various parts or processes. In his classic economics text, The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith wrote that 10 people working individually can produce 20 pins a day, but 10 people working together can produce 48,000 pins a day.
Synergy is bigger than just tasks, production, or the weight you can pull. It has to do with every aspect of life.
Married couples talk about the benefits of counselors. Athletes talk about the importance of trainers or coaches. Businesspeople talk about the power of a team.
This concept is true for your spiritual life as well. When you start developing strategic, spiritual relationships in your life, the impact is phenomenal, beginning with the challenge these relationships bring to your life.
So if you aren’t already a member of your church, what are you waiting for?
This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.
