I think oftentimes we can walk away from social media thinking, hey, I've had this exchange

with, you know, X number of people or whatever, and believe that I'm in this conversation,

when in point of fact, you're not the best place to have these kinds of conversations.

And the more contentious they are, the more important it is that we're having this across the dinner table and we're having this in our local churches.

But of course, that also requires that we have churches that create spaces to have the conversations.

Welcome to the Crossway podcast, a show where we sit down with authors each week for thoughtful

interviews about the Bible, theology, church history, and the Christian life. I'm Matt Tully, and today

I'm talking with Fabi Di Aniabwele. Thabidi serves as a pastor at Anacostia River Church in Washington, D.C., a council

member of the Gospel Coalition, and a lead writer for nine marks.

He's also the author of a number of books, including What is a Healthy Church Member, with Crossway.

Today, Thabidi and I discuss the value and benefits of local church membership.

He talked through what the Bible really teaches about the idea of formal membership,

what he'd say to those who feel like they've been hurt by the institutional church, and how to work through areas of

doctrinal, practical, and even political disagreement with other people in your church. Let's get

started. Tabidi, thank you so much for joining us today on the Crossway podcast.

It's a joy to be with you, brother. Thank you for having me. So can you briefly share your own story? How was it that you came to saving faith?

And what was your first experience of the church like as a new Christian?

Well, I grew up in a nominally Christian household down south where everybody's a Christian,

even if they've never been to a church.

And that was almost my situation.

We went to church at Christmas and Easter and things of that sort, but not much in between.

I think that the most lasting impression of the church in those years for me was the fact that when my older

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