Review: "Why Church Matters"

Let me get this off my chest right away:  if publishers are going to re-release a book under a new name, they should be very upfront about it.  I was some ways along in Why the Church Matters:  Discovering Your Place in the Family of God by Joshua Harris when I noticed some microscopic print on the bottom of the front cover which reads:  “Previously released as Stop Dating the Church.”  If you bought the book under the original title and then bought this “new” book based on your wanting to read something new from the author, I would say you would be rightly annoyed.  I certainly have been when I have purchased two titles of the same book in the past.  So, publishers, bigger print about such thing, please!

The book itself is very good.  (Though I am suspicious that this book was “cut out” of his book, Dug Down Deep” – at least, I could easily see this as additional material in that book.)  I would recommend it for most Christians, as I observe a growing number of people attending worship and even participating in some aspect of the church, but not being willing to join the church.  After all, if someone is faithfully attending, giving, and supporting the church, why should it matter if someone becomes a member?

In the first chapter, Harris explains that if one does not join, one is missing the fullness of the church relationship.  He does not deny that all Christians are part of the Church (universal), but there is an aspect of commitment that is missing if one does not join the local church.

In the second, he looks at how Jesus looks at the church – particularly the bridal imagery, (though he looks at body and temple imagery as well).  This is where the original title of the book comes from, paralleling dating with attending and marriage with membership.

In the third, he shows that membership proclaims one as being part of a new society.  He explains the three distinctive ordinances of the society as being baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and church discipline.  Here, as I have noted before with Harris’ books, though he wants his book to be available for all denominations, by stating that baptism is only for confessing believers and that the Lord’s Supper is (merely) a memorial of what Jesus did, he has lost some of us (39). 

I am not saying he cannot believe and teach that – Harris is in favor of denominations, so long as we all hold together on the “essentials.”  My point is that it is misleading to say that all Christians agree with his presentation of the sacraments here.

In the fourth chapter, Harris looks at seven points of passionate commitment.  He parallels his friend’s membership in a Jeep club and does a good job at showing the difference between attending and membership and how it involves a change in commitment even if one is already attending and participating.

In the fifth chapter, he looks at the “ten things that matter most” when choosing a church.  He rightly looks at the preaching of the Word, doctrine, pastoral faithfulness, evangelism, striving for holiness, discipline, etc., but says nothing about the administration of the sacraments.  The right administration of the sacraments is also an essential.  Even just for the fact that this culture is looking for visible representations, and God has given us two approved visible representations – only – baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  These are the Gospel in physical representation today.

The sixth chapter is about preparing for Sunday, and in the seventh, he encourages the reader to say “yes” to membership.

The book concludes with a useful study guide.

Belief in church membership is very low today, and Harris’ book is a welcome addition to the argument for church membership.  My one caveat would be to use this book in a class setting with denominational material about the sacraments, so they are covered as well.

[This review appears on Amazon.com and on my blog.  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.]