I know some church members do not look or act any different from those who are not. But the real member tries to and when he joins he puts on the uniform of a Christlike life which works for Christlike ends.
When the Christians first began to live it all out, the world used to say, "See how these Christians love one another." Their Christian membership was like a badge. Everybody knew where they belonged.
I want to ask you to join up there and put on the uniform of church membership. I will tell you why.
It helps to make you a better Christian. It is taking your stand on His side, and you can't do that, if you mean it, without being made deeper and stronger.
I do not think any one can be as good outside the church as in it, and I am sure we should be better inside than out of it. Those who are good without going to church are good because the church has made it possible. Just as all who were not in the army were safe because the great army and navy were protecting them. But it is not fair to borrow other people's money to live on. You should have your own. And it is not fair to get the good the church brings us without coming in and helping her. It is not fair to give no return for service received.
So I ask you to join God's church because it helps you, and it helps the church and it tells everybody where you stand.
Then it expresses your loyalty. Jesus gives us His church and if everybody refused to come in, it would die, and His work would perish.
Announce your loyalty now! Fight the fight now!
"He is counting on you!
On a love that will share
In His burden of prayer,
For the souls He has bought
With His life blood and sought,
Through His sorrow and pain
To win 'home' yet again.
He is counting on you;
If you fail Him—what then?"
It is very hard to be a citizen-at-large, that is, a citizen of the world. You have to be a citizen of some country.