Easier Becoming a Member of a Biker Gang Than a Local Church

Easier Becoming a Member of a Biker Gang Than a Local Church

I don't own a motorcycle, but I'm pretty sure I could get into a local motorcycle club much easier than becoming a member of a local church.


For most churches, the vetting process is insane. First, you have to sign up for a new member course online. That sounds reasonable until you discover that the class is "full." Huh?


The thing I love most about Heaven is that God will never say to me, "Sorry, we're full."


Now, you have to wait for the next class. Okay, that sounds fine until you discover the next one is not for another three months. Again, huh?


For some denominations, you must have a referral from a pastor within the same denomination to become a member. So let me get this straight:


You need a denominational pedigree to become a member, or else you cannot? Respectfully, the only pedigree worth the paper it's printed on is the one from my Heavenly Father. Of course, it's priceless and can never be altered.


I love that following Christ outside a brick-and-mortar building is not having to wait for some man-made hierarchal authority to tell me it's okay. I just do it.


I get to engage in these activities:

• Worship on my own
• Pray on my own
• Study on my own
• Serve on my own

We shouldn't follow Christ alone, you say? But I'm not alone. There are four people in my small group:

• The Father
• The Son
• The Holy Spirit
• Me

Unlike other small groups, mine meets year-round instead of abandoning members for summer, Christmas, New Year's, and spring break.


A Motorcycle Club is Never Closed

Most churches in North America are open to the public an average of three hours out of a 168-hour week. In contrast, biker gangs are always available since they don't typically worry about owning a building. Anyone is free to assemble at any time.


Can Local Churches Fix This?

Unfortunately, the same church model has been with us for almost twenty centuries:


1. You go to a designated building to gather once a week.


2. You worship for 15 minutes with others (yay!).


3. You shake hands with a few people (becoming less and less of a thing).


3. You sit quietly for one hour and listen to one person talk.


4. You wave frantically to a few people you know on the way out.


5. Lather, rinse, repeat next week.


Is Technology Really the Answer?

Many churches turn to technology as the ultimate answer to their dwindling numbers. Or it may be a further attempt to keep those time-consuming, needy people at arm's length.


Whatever the reason, there are several inherent problems with this strategy:

• No one wants to fill out another online form, download another app, or hassle with yet another QR code.
• If it's going to be so impersonal, why not just go to an "online church?"
• If you're going to keep people at arm's length, you may as well have "church" at Walmart, Sam's Club, or Costco. At least they're convenient for shopping afterward.
• Church and automation don't go well together. It makes people feel even more disconnected – hard to imagine – from their local church communities.

Are Small Groups the Answer?
Churches that break down into small groups admit it's the only way to truly connect with other believers. The problem is in the way we typically do it.


Most churches break their small groups into demographics. For example:

• Women's groups
• Men's groups
• Senior groups
• Young adult groups
• People-with-blue-hair groups

You get the idea. Fortunately, I've never encountered a church that breaks down into racial groups. I fall on my face every day, praying that never happens.


Breaking down into demographic groups seems reasonable. Unfortunately, many groups miss out on the wide range of perspectives necessary for our spiritual growth.

Gatekeepers and Other Hindrances

The local church, I'm convinced, invented gatekeepers. These are people trained to make it difficult for you to move freely within rigid institutional systems developed by large corporations.

Gatekeeper #1: Church Office Assistant
The pastor is busy, busy, busy. As with the CEO of a major corporation, you'll rarely get to express your appreciation for them in person. Their agendas are so full that, even with an appointment, you will often be referred to someone else who can relay your message. This is the job of the second gatekeeper: The associate pastor.


Gatekeeper #2: The Associate Pastor
There could be one or more associate pastors in a single church. These people aren't nearly as important as the head pastor but are just as good at keeping you at arm's length. They also have a gatekeeper in charge of them: The elder.


Gatekeeper #3: The Elder
Unlike pastors, elders are highly accessible. Unfortunately, they often know little about current membership requirements, program details, etc. If you need concrete answers, they'll refer you to the head pastor or person in charge of church membership.

Gatekeeper #4: The People in Charge
The people in charge of the membership classes, small groups, and micro-ministries are the people you need to see. Unfortunately, to get to them, they often have their own gatekeepers.


Gatekeeper #5: Online forms, sign-up sheets, and QR codes
I wonder how Jesus did without all the hierarchical church structure, gatekeepers, and digital technology. It's truly amazing how He signed up 12 disciples without the internet or a smartphone.


I'll keep trying to infiltrate my church with all its locked doors, gatekeepers, and online sign-up sheets. One day, I pray I'll be a member of a church that values my service.


Meantime, I'll continue following Christ in seclusion.

THAT is what it takes to be great in the Lord, there is a lot of time in the prayer closet that sets us up for time out of the prayer closet, as John Wimber would share.
Looking more and more He is calling His Own from all kindred.

I'll take this as a nod to keep praying

Precious brother Steve, awesome post.

When I studied on my own to 'sort out all the confusion' of Many Different
traditional denominational water baptisms, I had this thought:

Why is that churches require "their particular method" for fellowship when all
God 'Requires' is our 'mutual faith in Him' to "have fellowship with each other,
as 'members of one another'?

OK, Back to my prayer closet. ♫ 😇 ↑
Amen.

Try a small nondenominational church. Usually membership is very informal and fellowship is genuine.
It's not bad for church membership to be stringent. Some would say that the church has become full of quasi-believers. For me, I want to be fed. If a preacher can preach to my head, I'm good for 15 minutes. If he can preach to my soul, I'm good all day.
Also, the whole service should be considered worship, not just the singing. If God is present in the singing, He is likely present in all parts of the service.

Yeah...
Believe it or not but these requirements are rather inconsequential. Especially when viewing history in the USA or some churches that exist now elsewhere in the world.

It used to be that in order to have a membership (which included voting rights) you had a series of Theological questions that most pastors today would have a difficult time in answering....much less the average member.

Like:
Name three scriptures each that describe how Jesus fulfilled the roles of Priest, Prophet, and King.

Name and describe the three functions of Baptism.

And on and on these questions would go....only getting more difficult as they went. And you needed a 90 or better to pass.

I went to one church that required a 2 year course in order to get Baptized...which then would get you access to a three or five year probationary membership....not full membership.

Membership is all about voting and church direction. It doesn't keep you from services or classes. I only attend co-ed small group classes with my wife...none other. And as far as voting goes....I desperately try to avoid those services. Because I really don't care. I only go when forced into it for some sort of reason.

In these classes I do invite others (with their spouses) to my house for dinner to talk more casually. Then we also tend to have gingerbread house parties at Christmas for their kids as well as regular Christmas parties.
Then we also do various projects like landscaping for elderly members and other community involvement projects.

It's all about what you want and value.

That one seems the most appealing to me of all. They would probably be the ones who would actually go out and evangelize without worrying about what others think of them.

I don't know why you'd consider joining an outlaw biker gang? ? 🤔

Out of curiosity I looked into requirements.
I was surprised to find out that you might not need to own a bike after all. There are two exceptions.
A. You got to be a biker's wife/ girlfriend.
B. You have to be as tough as this bad hombre.
Then they might even give you a bike.

You might not meet one of those qualifications, but if you do qualify you may be initiated into Satan's Servants Biker Gang.


🪧 🛵😄

What's the benefit of being a member of a church verses a visitor?

Do you get a special seat?

Not sure why it's so important to become an official member of a church, rather than just attending a church.

What's the rush to become a church member? Like you say, the important thing is salvation from the Father. Church membership just gets you a say in the running of the church. That it takes a long time to become a member is probably good, as it slows down a church from being quickly infiltrated. You can still attend without being a member.

Amen brother Young, many believe if their name is on a church role, they are His. He requires relationship, not a frequently punched bus pass to heaven.
Nice hat, by the way,

Not all churches are like this.

There's a lot of truth in the OP. I've had trouble with 'church' and Christians all my life and I'm barely hanging on.

Christianity is NOT a place for a non-trinitarian who rejects pre-trib, hell, and 6-day creationism.

Why would anybody want anything to do with a righteous 'loving God' who sends people to a place where they are tormented endlessly for a 'VAPORS' worth of life?

I really do want OUT of this debacle of a so-called religion.

I'm truly glad you've found a church you can connect with. In the region in the US where I reside, the people are very shy and you really have to know someone to get to know someone else. It's kinda like that. But it's also a university town where there's a lot of elitism. It's kinda like that too. Don't know how else to describe it.

I like to throw a bit of hyperbole into my personal writing. Don't worry, you won't have to suffer through it if you pay me enough.

Let's hope not. I gave my life to Jesus Christ so that won't happen.

Unfortunately, in most churches, membership is a requirement to receive spiritual counseling, which is becoming a thing of the past. Really, in 2023, unless you are in close association with the top leadership of your church, you have no hope of becoming mentored or even acknowledged. Not to mention, some denominations require you to become a member before you get married, get baptized, or even take communion.

It's incredibly sad, and my heart grieves over all of it.

Also, many ministry opportunities are closed to those who are not official members. In addition, you are not allowed to attend church meetings where at least some of the budget is disclosed. Unfortunately, we're seeing less and less transparency in that regard.

I know. My hope is that no churches will be like this. Perhaps the one in Heaven?

Nice.

The Hell's Angels of the West Coast, or the Pagans of the East aren't groups I'd ever recommend.

But have you ever heard of the John Birch Society?
This National Society are very selective about who is allowed to join. It's kind of an elite organization like that.
I would be hard pressed whether I would prefer membership in the Trilateral Commission or that one.
😄