Planted

Have you ever thought of yourself as 'planted'? This thought 'popped' into my thinking just now. Putting this into a context, how did you get to the church you are attending? What prompted that first 'check out'? What stands out as the reasons you returned? The Preaching? The greeting by others attending? The music? There can be a host of 'reasons' that initially enticed you and spurred your continuing to attend. Yes? So now time has passed... are you still attending? Just attending? Or have you started to identify with the church as 'your' church? And... (I would quickly add that if you don't feel planted then you need to find a church in which you do feel this way.)

   "Only, let each one live the life which the Lord has assigned him, and to which

    God has called him [for each person is unique and is accountable for his

    choices and conduct, let him walk in this way]." [1 Corinthians 7:17)

If you are (in your church) , does it feel like your church home? If it is... what do you see as your part? You do realize that if you are attending, you've been planted. And if you've been planted then you belong. And if you belong you've not been called to be a pew sitter, so what's your role? Don't you feel a sense of participating? And if you feel a sense of participating... how will you express this?

I would contend that your church home needs to function with all involved. It's 'nice' being a guest but a guest is precisely that... not a member. And if you're injured - you wouldn't stand outside the hospital or clinic yelling that you're hurt would you? Wouldn't you go in to seek that help? Binding up the wounds, healing is part of what a church does and yes, you don't have to be a member to receive healing. 

   "...  and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to

    love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers

    for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one

    another;..." [Hebrews 10: 24b-25a]

Yes, I'm doing what I keep saying don't do - taking only a portion of scripture. My excuse is that the point needs to be confirmed by scripture. There's a powerful reasons to 'belong'... to be a part of a family. It's not that a non member won't be valued or heard and it is true that a prophet is without honor except in their own home (Mark 6:4) - HOWEVER... look what happens to those who do act on and accept the role of member - encouragement, love (and this doesn't end the litany of benefits).

I truly believe all believers are planted in a church AND for a reason. It may be for only a season, it may be permanent but planted - Yes. Sometimes the reason is a season of recuperating, I always think there are times of growing, perhaps a time to become better equipped in the call on your life, maybe there's a work you can do in that particular body of believers. The point is whatever was happening before (a different church split, a lifeless church that you can't influence, sin that you entered into), but you know it's a 'before'. You are where you are right now, right here and you need to seek the Lord to find out if you are also planted. If so, then make that statement and become a member. 

Planted, membership, commitment, involvement and I could go on is part and parcel of your now. I would also argue that there never is a time the Lord would want you unprotected, uninvolved. We all need one another to share, to grow, to become equipped, etc. Planted adds the element of belonging... which never is to be despised.