Writing: 4.5; Theme: 5.0; Content: 5.0; Language: 5.0; Overall: 5.0

Church membership carries with it great responsibility and blessing in the life of the Christian. This small tome shares how the right attitude can make church life a great success. Highly recommend.

***January 14, 2024*** ( )

Though the information in this book isn't wrong, per se, it's incomplete and unbalanced.

Rainer says: "You are [in your local church] to meet the needs of others. You are there to serve others. You are there to give. You are there to sacrifice. Get the picture?" (p 34)

While at first glance that might sound biblical, the Bible, in fact, uses one-another terminology to describe what we "should" be doing in the Church body. "Love one another, forgive one another, serve one another..." As in, our church should be a place where we love and are loved, serve and are served, give and receive. Rainer's "do more, more, more" attitude will lead many members (who are already serving at capacity) to burnout.

There was also an undue emphasis on how hard pastors or those in leadership positions work and all of the ways we lowly parishioners make life even harder on them. The point Rainer was trying to make is that they need prayer. True - the Bible tells us to pray for our leaders. But again, it also tells all Christians to pray for one another.

Chapter 4 details the true story of a pastor who's overwhelmed with the "needs" of his congregation, and while reading it, I couldn't overlook the fact that the pastor in this account had very poor boundaries. A pastor should not be neglecting his nuclear family to attend to the needs of the church family - if he is, that's a sign that he is trying to do too much. In my experience, it's because the pastor has taken on the role of savior instead of leading people to our true Savior, Jesus Christ. If you set yourself up with poor boundaries and tell everyone that they need you to save them, of course some undiscerning members will believe you and become too needy at some point. Pastors should be setting and enforcing healthy boundaries for themselves, modeling what those look like, as well as teaching those boundaries outright, to church members. Not only will it ease the burden on everyone serving in the church, but it will help to reinforce the truth that pastors and other leaders are finite human beings, just like the rest of us. They are not extra-special-holy and extra-special-capable. (I highly recommend all church members - laypeople and leaders alike - read [b:Boundaries|944267|Boundaries When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life|Henry Cloud|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348423991l/944267._SX50_.jpg|55483783].)

Chapter 5 is titled, "I will lead my family to be healthy church members" - so, obviously, this focuses on marriage and parenting. As an apparent afterthought, Rainer says, "Many church members are single. They have no immediate family with whom they can worship in the church. Regardless, there are still people watching them and how they love the church. They are to be an example to others." (Gee, really? How insightful!) Considering 50% of American Christians are single, it's frustrating that we're still disclaimers in books that are about the Church, the eternal family of God that will continue on even as the nuclear family ends with Christ's return.

Overall, I feel like this book is far too short and superficial to fully address some of the issues that it brings up. Incomplete truths can be dangerous.

I think this would be best read in a small group or Sunday School or new member's class, where time can be allocated to discuss the issues more in-depth and fill in some of the glaring holes this book leaves. ( )

This is a short book. This may be a little off putting to some folks as to whether or not they should purchase it. It is also a simple read. This may also be a deterrent.

Simply put though...Read this book!

Yes, it short, yes it is simple, but immediately after reading this book, I said to myself, "I want everyone in my congregation to read this book!" I am thinking of placing his steps for congregational healthiness at the forefront of our next council meeting. They are easy and simple guidelines to be a member in a congregation. That is what the whole book is. A small intro and then right into the principles that Rainer wants to discuss. Simple things like I will pray for the pastor. Very simple, but easily forgettable by many members.

I am trying not to spoil his principles by giving them all away, but this book is worth the read. It is worth sharing with others. This would make a great discussion in congregations. It will make people change the way they think about membership plain and simple. ( )

This is a very short book that makes very strong points. It's basically written for seasoned Christians who are unhappy/unsatisfied with their church for various reasons. It leads the reader in its six chapters to make six pledges regarding behaving in accordance to a biblical church member. The author made strong points on why these six pledges are legit. He cited Biblical passages directly related to them and gave captivating illustrations that help you understand and empathize. The six pledges are : 1. Be a "member" (as in member/organ of the body of Christ), not a Country Club member, 2. Behave with the purpose of unifying people in the church, rather than gossip about others; 3. Put your personal preferences about how a church should operate aside, and instead place what best serves the people at the top of your priority; 4. Pray for your pastor because being a pastor brings many challenges; 5. Demonstrate to your family members how you honor and love your church; 6. View being a church member as a precious gift from God, not as representing a set of rules you are forced to follow.

It really is a VERY short book. Each chapter took me no more than five minutes. It was a easy reading experience. I knew before going into the book that there would probably be points I didn't want to hear. But the content is so short anyways that they are not even that annoying. And the author was persuasive. I appreciated being called out on what wrong attitude I had. I would recommend the book to other seasoned Christians who are also sometimes unhappy/unsatisfied with things in their church :D ( )

Short, lightning fast read that could form the basis for a solid sermon series or class on membership. ( )