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Renaming the Product
Product names are important in our society. We have companies whose sole function is just thinking up names for products. Sometimes, even before a product exists, some company or another has already copyrighted a name for it. Many large corporations don't even bother anymore with trying to name their own products. They have found that the name they choose has either already been copyrighted (by guess who!), or that it simply doesn't "catch on" with the public. In either case, they end up hiring one of the specialist companies to dream up a name for them.
Having just the right name for a product is important in other areas besides business. Consider the church. What, for example, does your congregation call the group of people that meets with the pastor to take up instruction in the faith? Chances are it's called the "membership class". A useful name? Perhaps. Descriptive? Maybe. But I don't like it.
The term "membership class" is not a good name because it's way too limiting.
I've led hundreds of witness workshops over the years, and I have found again and again that people simply don't know their Christian basics (even some of those who attend Bible classes fairly regularly). I have found that many can't give a clear statement about infant babtism or the Lord's Supper. Some have trouble giving clear witness of the way of salvation.
To be fair, though, it is precisely because these people are a bit vague or fuzzy on these points that they attend the workshops in the first place. In face, as some have told me, they need to attend such a class at least once every other year to refresh their memories on the basics (most of which they originally learned when they were just 12 or 14 years old).
Some have said, "Boy! Have I ever forgotten a lot since confirmation class!"
So what does this have to do with my contention that the term "membership class" is too limiting? This: We shouldn't limit this class to just those seeking membership in our congregations. Why narrow the class thus? Other people - even longtime, established members - might like to participate, too, but they won't because, by definition, the class is only for prospective members.
Another reason I object to the term "membership class" is that it limits the class' potential as a witness tool. Mr. and Mrs. Goodmember have been trying for years to get their neighbors, the Stayhomes, to come to church with them. The Stayhomes resist, however, becaus they simply don't want to join another organization.
But consider this dialouge over the back fence:
Mrs. Stayhome: "Would you and Ed like to go golfing with us on Friday?"
Mrs. Goodmember: "Oh, we'd love to, but we're starting a course on the basics of the Christian faith that night. Say, why don't the two of you come with us? We need a refresher in what we believe and why, and it would give you an overview of the Christian faith."
Mrs. Stayhome: "Oh, we really don't want to join anything more right now."
Mrs. Goodmember: "Who said anything about joining? It's just a basic course, open to anyone. There's no obligation. We've been members for years, but we still like to go just for the review. Of course, when the class ends, those who aren't members are invited to share our fellowship of faith."
Can you imagine the above dialouge taking place using the term "membership class"? My point is, don't change what you teach in your membership class; just change the name of the class. To what? "A Course in the Basics of the Christian Faith."