A lot of people have given up on going to church. We frequently hear people say things like, "I can serve the Lord just as well without the church." In a way this is understandable. I have been involved in church for fifty two years - twenty seven years as a pastor and 23 years as a Director of Missions in a Baptist association. I know that being involved in church can be a daunting experience at times. Why? Because there are all kinds of people in church, just like there are all kinds of people in the Lion's Club . People are people wherever you meet them - at church, at work or at play. Some people can be a real trial. (You just need to make sure that you are not one of them.) Some people live to make trouble wherever they are, and church is no exception. Of course, there are always the hypocrites, who say one thing on Sunday and do whatever they want to do on Monday-Saturday. Oh yes, after fifty two years of serving in Christ's church I can think of plenty of human reasons to leave it. If you think it is a trial for you as a member, try pastoring for a little while, then you will know what a trial it really is. Why then don't we just give up on the organized church? Well, the work of the church is bigger than we are. With all of its foibles and failures it is, after all, Christ's church. There has never been a perfect church. Just read the letters of Paul for a good example of what I'm writing about. Read First Corinthians. The church at Corinth reminds us of our own churches with divisions, preacher worship, immorality, etc. You name it, and it was in the Corinthian Church. Paul did not just throw up his hands and say, "I've had it with you people. I'm washing my hands of you and going home." What he did was to challenge them to do better. So, what can we do about the church dilemma? We can decide, first of all, that there is no perfect church, and it you found one and joined it, it would no longer be perfect. God convinced me years ago that I would never pastor angels, and, incidentally, that I would never be one myself. Second, we can ask ourselves that if everybody at church was like me would it be a better church? Has it ever occured to you that your attitude might be part of the problem? Do everything that you can to make your church a better church! Don't just go to church on Sunday, rather be the church everyday.
Jesus said that the "gates of hell" would never prevail against His Church. His church includes every "born again" believer of all Christian denominations. It also includes that body of believers to which you belong. Don't give up on what cannot be destroyed and do everything that you can to make it better. Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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September 2021
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