Have you ever been a member of an organization? Probably. There are clubs and teams of every sort. Some have large memberships. But how many people demonstrate a true commitment? Some people only join groups to be able to list them on their resumes.
You’ve likely heard of the 80-20 rule. That is, 80 percent of the work is done by 20 percent of the people.
For some people, their faith is like that. They figure that if they go to church, teach a Sunday School class, or sing in the choir, it makes them a Christian. Others point out the fact that some family member was a Christian. There are those who think they’re Christians because, “Well, I’m not Jewish, or Muslim, or Hindu, or Buddhist, so I guess I must be a Christian.” And some people say they’re Christians because they’re “nice people” (see my previous blog post “Just Be Nice”).
I’ve heard the saying “Just because you’re in the garage doesn’t make you a car”. Kind of fits here. Mere membership doesn’t make you anything. Anyone can sit in a chair (or pew) every so often, without really being a part of the gathering.
Being a Christian doesn’t just mean you go to church – it means much more. Being a Christian means having a daily, committed relationship with God. As the saying goes, all in. And yes, this is a growth process. We don’t get it all at once. There is always more, like C.S. Lewis said, “Further up and further in.” It means letting God be the lord and master of your life, allowing him to change you from the inside out.
Every person has to answer the question, “Am I a car, or am I just in the garage?”