Church is NOT a volunteer organization…

All too often we think of the church and our attendance as flexible. Oh, it’s a good and even important option, but it remains still an option. Honest assessment indicates that we treat Jesus and his church as valuable, but as non-essential. It would seem Jesus must adapt to our lifestyles, our work habits, our vacation commitments, our sporting interests, and our own preferences, likes, and quirks. Jesus gets a place, but he occupies the closet we choose in our own kingdoms.

One dangerous indicator of such church murmur is volunteerism. Many of us volunteer at the local charity. We volunteer to serve our political parties and candidates. We volunteer at our children’s schools. We sign up to send brownies, to chaperone school trips, and even to host international students. We wash the team jerseys or learn a few words of Spanish for our visiting missionaries. Not to let the church down, we volunteer to serve the nursery, to be greeters at the door, to make meals for the sick, and even to teach in the children’s ministry.

But here lies the problem. Relationship with the Church comes by the call of an almighty God, and he does not post an offer on Facebook to see if we are interested in helping out. Christ’s Church is no volunteer organization; Christ’s kingdom does not have an opt-in or opt-out clause.

To whatever degree that we see our service in Christ’s church as volunteerism, we fail to serve the church according to the gospel’s redefinition of our very existence and priorities. One does not view membership in Christ’s kingdom as membership at the local YMCA: “I’ll use my pass when I feel like going.” One does not volunteer to serve a king, let alone the King of kings. One redeemed in the cross does not treat Christ’s visible kingdom with visible—or even invisible! —disrespect. To treat the church of God, secured by the crushing and resurrecting of his Son, passively, flippantly, or voluntarily is unconscionable.

Let’s reject the notion that our participation in Lord’s Day services is our gift to God. Let us repent of thinking that membership in the church “has its privileges” for us to enjoy when we are good and ready. Let’s reject service in Christ’s church as volunteerism, labeling such an orientation the rebellion that it is.
Rather we must remember who we are and whose we are. We must live in the power of Christ’s resurrection as if he really lives, reigns, and dwells with us. We must honor the name of Christ Jesus in our view of his church—that our membership and service to his visible family are wonderful and privileged obligations. Such a statement may fall harshly upon disciple ears. But grace never entitles us to self-absorption or autonomy; it blessedly draws us into all that Christ is and has done. The purpose and power of Christ’s death and resurrection outrightly dismiss any trivialization of his church.

Should you volunteer at church? Never! Should you serve in every way possible, ministering and serving, loving and leading, shepherding and instructing, sacrificing and blessing? Absolutely! You must join your church, serve your church, and manifestly love your church. Anything less is unthinkable.

Important to note that this is a combination of several authors I have read in the past and is a combined writing. I do not have all of the authors names, but I do know this: the credit for this does not come to me – if anyone Praise to God for allowing me the opportunity to serve Him.