Imagine tying it down, never exercising it. When we talk about membership, we are talking about the responsibility to use our own gifts, and to expect each others' gifts to be used, for the good of the body. Underused and inactive members are a challenge to the meeting. We can't expect to be healthy if our members' gifts aren't used, any more than we would be healthy with an inactive arm or leg. Regular and frequent exercise, with a balance in all parts of the body, is as important for churches as it is for everyday, individual health.
Many people join a church, at first, because it meets their needs.
One of our greatest needs is always to be needed , not just as a warm body in a pew, but as a person with gifts to contribute. All of them. If you feel that they're not being used, please see me. That's a really important problem. I often compare membership to marriage .