Membership

It is almost March now, and membership classes are starting soon. Within the last few months, various prominent preachers have emphasized the importance of being a member of a local church, and that it is basically heresy to “ride solo”. I wouldn’t call my behavior in Chicago that, given I’ve been very active in two churches (Beloved and Cornerstone), but I have yet to give my allegiance to either. The church I go to for service (on Saturday afternoons) is Beloved, but I have to wonder if this is the church for me, especially after last Saturday. Do I enjoy spending my time with these brothers and sisters listening to them talk about Fuller House and Suits? Or watch them agonize whether Steph Curry will clutch it out in overtime? I don’t, and without a doubt I can give a full theological analysis on how terrible is this behavior when the church body comes together. But this begets the question, if I go to a church where they have LAN parties or FOF (fellowship over food) for afterhours, is this just catering to my own tastes as a gamer and social foodie? This is about the time I reminisce the prayer and worship times after church back at Pittsburgh, and the extensive spiritual refinement Vision School gave during those semesters. Is it too terrible to mention that we ought to pray more together, share more together, encourage each other more, and be holy together after church? Sigh, maybe I just sat at the wrong table. Maybe God is telling me to stay and encourage them and point them to the Cross. It is not about me, it is all about Jesus.