Positive Steps Christians Can Take To Make Their Churches More Community Friendly
As Dr Towns posits in his book, Core Christianity: "People misunderstand Christianity because of the attitude of Christians toward their local church and the way local churches act."
Many a pastor and deacon has wrestled with these problems since the beginnings of the church. We have seen many illustrations of these problems from Paul's Epistles, praising the various churches for what they have done right, but also chastising them for what they have done wrong. In 1 Cor 1:10, Paul pleas: "I beg you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and not be split into groups. I beg that you be completely joined together by having the same kind of thinking and the same purpose." Dr Towns said that "There are times when Christians fight in their churches about things of little or no importance." Elmer hit that nail flat on the head! The followers in Corinth were arguing about what apostle they followed, as if following Jesus wasn't enough. If Paul heard about their squabbles from where he was, it must have gotten pretty bad. How do our church members think they carry over in the secular world?
Many of our modern churches have the same problems with internal squabbles over small things, and the enemy loves it! We as Christians need to remember that we are the Body of Christ. If your left leg was in constant rebellion against your right leg, how far would they carry you? If the Body of Christ is in peril, how will it do the work of Christ effectively? Jesus told us that a house divided cannot stand. Both of the foregoing are problems with squabbles in the church, we let our human nature override our spirituality.
How can we minimize the effects of church squabbles? First, examine scripture, we must remember to go to those with whom we have a disagreement in a spirit of love, explain things, and work things out. Second, we must maintain a servant's attitude, because a servant's attitude minimizes ego and maximizes cooperation.
Another problem with some local churches is their outward appearance of Christianity, but minimum activities of Christian import. Gandhi said he liked Christ but he didn't like His Christians. Why would he and so many others feel that way? Why are there so many people who believe that the church is a den of hypocrites? Unfortunately, it is because there are so many Christian churches that don't really act very Christian. Dr Towns says that "...some churches need to repent for the evil they cause and the confusion they sow in the world." What are some of these things?: James told us that faith without works is dead, but there are many churches that do nothing but serve as a social club for wannabe Christians, or a forum for a political action pac masquerading as a church. These people get all worked up on Sunday, put a few bucks in the collection plate on Sunday and call it good. They drive home from church and look the other way when they see someone in need when a little Christian charity could not only help with the corporal needs but also the spiritual needs of someone in trouble. These are God's Frozen people.
How do we help with a church attitude of sharing. I believe it starts right at the pulpit. The pastor needs to preach on christian charity and outreach. The church congregation members need to start needy outreach programs. There are almost always people in a congregation with a generous heart for outreach. Identify and promote those people and their ideas. Starting other outreach groups like evangelism committees and hospital visitations also goes a long way. Think of a need in the community and there are groups that can help address these needs. I know of churches with as few as 25 active members who run several programs. I also know, unfortunately, of churches many times larger with none of these programs.
What might happen to churches that institute some of the foregoing policies? These churches might begin to get a reputation in the community as Christ-Centered, Spirit-Filled congregations who glorify the name of Jesus; churches with a propensity to brotherly love and great stewardship; churches where the unchurched might just want to come by and see just what is so special there. These are churches where the members of the congregation might someday hear: "Well done my good and faithful servant!
God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler
As Dr Towns posits in his book, Core Christianity: "People misunderstand Christianity because of the attitude of Christians toward their local church and the way local churches act."
Many a pastor and deacon has wrestled with these problems since the beginnings of the church. We have seen many illustrations of these problems from Paul's Epistles, praising the various churches for what they have done right, but also chastising them for what they have done wrong. In 1 Cor 1:10, Paul pleas: "I beg you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and not be split into groups. I beg that you be completely joined together by having the same kind of thinking and the same purpose." Dr Towns said that "There are times when Christians fight in their churches about things of little or no importance." Elmer hit that nail flat on the head! The followers in Corinth were arguing about what apostle they followed, as if following Jesus wasn't enough. If Paul heard about their squabbles from where he was, it must have gotten pretty bad. How do our church members think they carry over in the secular world?
Many of our modern churches have the same problems with internal squabbles over small things, and the enemy loves it! We as Christians need to remember that we are the Body of Christ. If your left leg was in constant rebellion against your right leg, how far would they carry you? If the Body of Christ is in peril, how will it do the work of Christ effectively? Jesus told us that a house divided cannot stand. Both of the foregoing are problems with squabbles in the church, we let our human nature override our spirituality.
How can we minimize the effects of church squabbles? First, examine scripture, we must remember to go to those with whom we have a disagreement in a spirit of love, explain things, and work things out. Second, we must maintain a servant's attitude, because a servant's attitude minimizes ego and maximizes cooperation.
Another problem with some local churches is their outward appearance of Christianity, but minimum activities of Christian import. Gandhi said he liked Christ but he didn't like His Christians. Why would he and so many others feel that way? Why are there so many people who believe that the church is a den of hypocrites? Unfortunately, it is because there are so many Christian churches that don't really act very Christian. Dr Towns says that "...some churches need to repent for the evil they cause and the confusion they sow in the world." What are some of these things?: James told us that faith without works is dead, but there are many churches that do nothing but serve as a social club for wannabe Christians, or a forum for a political action pac masquerading as a church. These people get all worked up on Sunday, put a few bucks in the collection plate on Sunday and call it good. They drive home from church and look the other way when they see someone in need when a little Christian charity could not only help with the corporal needs but also the spiritual needs of someone in trouble. These are God's Frozen people.
How do we help with a church attitude of sharing. I believe it starts right at the pulpit. The pastor needs to preach on christian charity and outreach. The church congregation members need to start needy outreach programs. There are almost always people in a congregation with a generous heart for outreach. Identify and promote those people and their ideas. Starting other outreach groups like evangelism committees and hospital visitations also goes a long way. Think of a need in the community and there are groups that can help address these needs. I know of churches with as few as 25 active members who run several programs. I also know, unfortunately, of churches many times larger with none of these programs.
What might happen to churches that institute some of the foregoing policies? These churches might begin to get a reputation in the community as Christ-Centered, Spirit-Filled congregations who glorify the name of Jesus; churches with a propensity to brotherly love and great stewardship; churches where the unchurched might just want to come by and see just what is so special there. These are churches where the members of the congregation might someday hear: "Well done my good and faithful servant!
God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler
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