A Good Reason to Join a Church

Joining a church is a good thing. So almost any reason for doing so is a good reason, right? Well, not exactly. Because joining a church is one of the great things in life, less than great reasons for doing so will usually set you up for failure.

Don’t join a church because it’s cool.

There are some cool churches out there, with cool pastors. But social status enhancement is not a good reason to join a church.

Don’t join a church because your friends go there.

It’s fun to attend church with friends, and if it works out that way, very good. It can be a nice touch, but it’s a poor reason for making your choice.

Don’t join a church because they have great programs.

You are not joining a spiritual country club. If you choose a church that happens to have solid events for everyone in the family, excellent. But it’s not a good reason on its own.

Don’t join a church because it agrees with your list of important doctrines.

This is actually a trick. Choosing a church based on your pet doctrines is a sure way to fall into the trap of trying to find (your idea of) a perfect church. It doesn’t exist.

Don’t join a church because you think you can help.

Joining a church because you think it needs help, and you think you can improve it, is actually not a good reason for doing so. Trying to find a project church, or somewhere you hope you can rise quickly into leadership, is a terrible reason to join.

So what’s a good reason, pastor? I’ll give you one.

Join a church because you think you can be helped by it.

Choose to fellowship where you honestly think you can grow as a Christian. Join a church to be spiritually ministered to, to be fed the great Food of Jesus Christ and him crucified, and to be shepherded in godliness. For this is what church is (Eph 4:11-16).