Numbers or Members?

My husband and I were in an interesting chat with our Pastor friends recently. Together we tried to distinguish between "Numbers" and "Members" in church. At the end of our conversation, I decided to pour out and post what was in my heart about it. With due respect, anyone who can be "counted" as someone who is attends a particular church is a "Number" - and that's where we all start. On the other side, "Members" are those you can count on because they go above and beyond being counted.

Yes, a play with words but the difference between someone who can be counted and someone who can be counted on is not a playing matter but definitely a praying matter for all pastors (and their wives, who are also pastors in many cases).

1 Corinthians 12:12 tells us: For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (ESV)

Ephesians 4:16 - The whole body depends on Christ, and [through/by whom] all the parts of the body are joined and held together. Each part [supporting joint/ligament] does its own work [performs its function] to make the whole body grow and be strong with [to build itself up in] love. (Expanded Bible)

Romans 12:4- 5 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Without a shadow of doubt, we all depend on Christ and also need each other i.e. interdependent on each other. 1 Corinthians 12: 14-27 and Romans 12: 6-8 go on to explain our interdependencies not just the dependencies.

Numbers don't take these verses to heart - they rather stand alone/apart except when they want or need something from someone or the church. Members stand with/alongside others... and are there to help/support others as needed even before they are asked. Those who are "Numbers" just expect more and more from the church and never give any thought to what they can give. Remember my piece about the SHADE*?

As Pastor &/or Mrs Pastor, let's not get carried away with the Numbers...rather do what we should which includes prayers that they become Members.
May the our growth in members be faster than the increase in numbers in our churches. Amen.

Reference:
* http://mrs-pastor-and-pastor-mrs.blogspot.com/2012/12/shade-vs-roots.html