To be a member of a local church is the sanest thing a Christian can do. It shows the world one is committed to something called the Church. In an age of Wild West Christianity where people show up when they want to, visit where they want to, act independently of any institution, the call to be a member of a church is a hard sell. To join a local church is to tell the world that we are not self-centered maniacs seeking whatever we want, but that we are social-centered members seeking what the will of God is for his people; and the will of God is to put you with other people in a unique society called the church. Since Jesus loves his bride, then to be apart from his bride is to be apart from Jesus.
