The church – 21 Jan 07
Some of you have seen those "wind-up" toys, for children. You wind it up and sit it on the floor and watch it. It is fun. One of the reason is that you do not have to do very much
to make it work. All you have to do is to wind it up and watch it.Some people think the church is like a wind-up toy. They think you do not have to do very much to make it work. But they are wrong! The church needs committed people who work endlessly for the extension of God's kingdom. Without these people we would have no church.
The church is more than a building, it is the congregation.
And in addition to run all the church related programmes,
we are called to worship. The Bible says in 1 Tim 4: 13-15
"Give your time and effort to public reading of the Scriptures
and to preaching and teaching." However a great majority of people believe that they can be just as good a Christian, than those who run to church Sunday after Sunday.
Therefore:"Why go to church!"many are saying to themselves?
Let the "Other people run the church.And so the Divine Worship Services are not well attended any more. Perhaps we live too well, and have no time for God. In hard times, people sure find the time to fill the churches, history has proven. The Christian church did best during years of persecution. What is the situation in Canada today? This is what I once read in the newspaper: Some one wrote a number of analogy of the church is, entitled: The church is a hospital for sinners, not a club for saints. It has no sign "For members only." It does not take membership only from those "recommended by friends." It is a hospital where bandages are of - prayer, - forgiveness and - love. The church is an outpatient hospital, were treatment is available at all times. The church is a road map. The highway of life needs direction signs, and the church points out the way clearly. Young, middle aged and aging individuals all find directions for their life's journey in the church. Namely: How to begin, - how to travel, and - how to end. The church is a human institution. Human beings with all their faults and - virtues make up the church on earth. Yet in spite of it being made up of humans, God uses it for his holy purpose. The church is an oasis. During life's hot, tired and long journey the church happily provides: - food, - water and - rest. It is like an oasis in the desert for the spiritual - thirsty, and - weary souls. The church is a friend. The church is our friend - in sunny or - in rainy weather. It rejoices with us in happiness and mourns with us in sorrow. The church is a bank. We put into the church: faith, hope and love. And we draw from it: - happiness, - peace, and - joy. The church is composed of people like us. We make it what it is. Sometimes a church is friendly, Sometimes not. Often it is inspiring, Occasionally it is not. A church could be filled, but usually it is not!!! But unless we dedicate ourselves to its cause and wellbeing, the church can be boring, ineffective and dead. Why attend church? Certainly not to sleep, criticise or "to cause the church stumble."(1 Cor 10:32) But do help, inspire and "strengthen the church" (1 Cor 28:26).
Here is a ‘Wish List “concerning a church: THIS IS MY CHURCH: (from a church bulletin)
1.The church will be friendly, if we are friendly.
2.Its pews will be filled, if we fill them.
3.The church will do great work, if we work for it.
4.The church will make generous gifts to many causes, if we are generous givers.
5.The church will be a place of worship for many people, if we bring them.
6. The church will be of: love, faith and hope, if we are filled with these.
7.Therefore, with the help of God, we will dedicate ourselves to the task of being all things that we want our church to be.
The church is only what we make it. And Christ works through people and many have dedicated themselves to work hard for the visible church here on earth, and thereby make provision to become members the invisible church, which is the company
of all the faithful who have departed this world. The church is made up of people, some who work hard, some who just attend, and some who seldom think of it. Every church has people who just talk, but do not act. Others who want things to happen, but do not make them happen. And then, thanks be to God, we have those who work hard for the church. We are familiar with the "pillars" of the church, which are those who uphold the church. But there are other images, such as vines and branches, sheep and sheep fold. But what about bones? The Bible speaks of "Dry bones!" A minister put these thought together and called them the "various" bones: The human body is held together by many bones, about 200 of them. COLLAR BONES, RIB BONES, SKULL BONES They are classified according to their shape and function.
The church too is held together by bones, classified according to their usage: JAW BONES, WISH BONES AND BACK BONES.
1.There are the JAWBONES There is nothing slow about them. They work up and down in a great speed. They criticise, condemn and gossip. From them comes dissention and despair. The church is not infallible. God calls all people, which include the jawbones.
2.There are the WISHBONES They wish for: a better fellowship, a larger attendance, more stewardship, stronger Sunday School, a spirit-filled congregation. But they do not offer to assist with prayer, time talent and treasure. They are the "rocking chair" Christians of the church.
3.And there are the BACKBONES. If there is work to be done, they do it. They are the "pillars" of the church. The backbones are the people the minister can count on.
They are always active, and take on every task. We cannot do without them. But the danger is that they will overwork themselves, and then suddenly quit the church. This happens all too often.
I came across a writing by John Milton Moore, how he had this vision or dream of what the church should be: his is the church of my dreams. The church of a warm heart, of an open mind and of an adventurous spirit. A church that cares, heals the hurt lives, comforts old people and challenges the youth. A church that knows no division of class and has no geographical & social frontiers. A church that looks forward as well as backward. A working and worshipping church. A church that interprets the truth in terms of truth. A church that gives courage for life and hope for the life to come. A church of all of God's people. A church of the living God. A good preacher fills the church, A bad preacher empties the church! People should not go to worship or stay away because of the minister. But they do. Hence one needs a perfect minister. (from a church magazine):THE PERFECT PREACHER HAS BEEN FOUND: It claims that after hundreds of years a model preacher has been found to suit everyone. He preaches exactly 20 minutes and then sits down. He condemns sins, but never hurts anyone's feeling. He works from eight in the morning to ten o'clock at night. He earns $ 25, 000 annually and gives & 30, 000 to the church. He is 26 years old and has been preaching for 30 years. He is tall and short, thin and heavy set. He has one brown eye and one blue one. His hair is parted in the middle, left side dark and straight, the right side brown and wavy. He smiles all the time with a straight face, because he has a sense of humour, that keeps him seriously dedicated to his work. He has a burning desire to work with teenagers, and spends all his time with the older folks. He makes 25 calls a day on church members, spends all his time evangelizing the unchurched, and is never out of his office. Can a person be a Christian without actually participating in Divine Worship Services? Can someone be a sports fan without actually participating in a game? The difference is if we are active or passive members .ere is a clever analogy taken from the General Council News (UCC):A well known minister told his congregation that he will never attend another football game, and he gave his astonished members the following reasons WHY HE WILL NEVER ATTEND ANOTHER FOOTBALL GAME.
1. Every time I went to a game, someone asked me for money.
2. I was a good and faithful fan, but the coach never visited me.
3. The seats in the stadium were too hard and uncomfortable.
4. I suspected I was sitting with hypocrites, since they seemed more interested in their hot dogs and pop than in the game.
5. The referees made decisions, with which I could not agree.
6. Since I bought a book on football, I can stay at home and read about it, or watch the game on TV in the comfort of my living room. And I consider myself just as good a fan as the people who attend and pay.
7. Saturday afternoon is the only time that I have off, and a person has to rest, you know!
And since the reasons of staying away are so trivial, small and little. And since the few people who attend are often divided among each other, a poet has put some of the most used excuses in a poem:TEN LITTLE CHURCHMEN Ten little churchmen went to church when fine, but it started raining ...and then there were nine. Nine little churchmen stayed up very late, one overslept himself...then there were eight. Eight little churchmen on the road to heaven, one joined a cycling club...then there were seven. Seven little churchmen heard of Sunday flicks, one thought he would like to go...then there were six. Six little churchmen kept the place alive, one bought a TV set...then there were five. Five little churchmen seemed loyal to the core, the minister upset one...then there were four. Four little churchmen asked out to tea, one couldn't leave in time...then there were three. Three little churchmen sang the service through, got to a hymn they did not know...then there were two. Two little churchmen argued who should run the annual bazaar...then there was one.This silly nursery rhyme has lots of truth in it.Here is a story of an experience a preacher had when he made such a visit:THE BACK SLIDERThe pastor visited a backslider of his congregation. They were sitting on a cold winter day in front of the fireplace.The back slider was waiting for the minister to lay into him for not attending church any more. But nothing was said.The back slider had all the right excuses prepared, - how he liked the old timing of the service better, - that he objects to be asked to make a pledge, since he likes to give without a commitment; - and that he finds it hard to get used to the new man with his different ideas. But to his surprise the subject did not come up.In fact, the two man sat there in silence! After the fire was burning well, the minister simply took the tongs and removed a brightly glowing log from the others, and laid it aside -in front of the fire place. They watched in silence as the other logs continued to give light and heat in the blazing fire place. But they also noticed that the separate log, which was laid aside,did not do so well,but was now smouldering and smoking. It did not take very long and it was completely extinguished. The back slider understood the implication and how a person could not survive very long, if he is separated from the body of others. After a while the back slider turned to the minister and said: My family and I will be in church on Sunday. Thank you for coming and reminding us of our remiss."