Not trying to be mean, just calling believers to be committed to Christ's church for the right reasons!
1. I/my family have always gone
there.
It is not necessarily bad to attend a church that you or your
family has attended for a long time. However, this motivation is not adequate if
you haven’t personally committed to love the people who are there now unconditionally,
to submit to the current leadership and to seek how you can help the church
change as the word and Spirit leads. In Acts 2 it describes the believer’s commitment
to the church like this:
Acts
2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine
and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. They “continued steadfastly” means they continually
devoted themselves. If you are continually devoting yourself to your church
(teaching, prayer, fellowship, Lord’s Supper, etc.), because it is what God
would have you do, then whether it is your first day or your family founded the
church, you have a motivation that will bless both you and the church!
2. I think the people are nice there.
Who doesn’t like to be around nice people and
Christians should be nice, so what’s the problem? God’s word teaches us how to
respond when people aren’t nice (sin) and if we are seeking niceness, we won’t
see their un-niceness as an opportunity for God to work, but as a reason for us
to find a nicer church.
See -
Matt.
5:23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there
remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the
altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and
offer your gift.
Matt.
18:15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault
between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But
if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two
or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 And if he refuses to
hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the
church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
Matt. 18:21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how
often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to
you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Matt.
6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men
their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Sin and conflict will happen to us and be caused
by us, the question is will we respond as God says and grow as He works in our
lives and the church or leave because they weren’t nice?
3. I really feel good when I go
there.
This may mean church is fun, entertaining or just
gives us a warm fuzzy feeling when we attend. While all could be OK as
experiences at church, they are terrible motivations to attend a church. Why are
fun, entertainment and/or “warm fuzzies” a bad motivation to attend a church, because
Christ’s church is very serious business.
Paul said this about His ministry to the church
and to warn the future church:
Acts
20:26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am
innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I
have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock,
among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of
God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For
I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not
sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves
men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after
themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that
for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
We are told:
Eph.
5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Phil.
2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as
in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who
works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Clearly we shouldn’t be asking is
church fun, entertaining or making us feel good, but is the entire word being
taught, are we taking the Gospel to others lest they perish and are we living
out our faith in a careful and serious way.
4. I don’t like this
church as it is, but I am staying because I am either too stubborn to leave or
too afraid to go elsewhere.
If you feel the church has fallen
prey to un-biblical leadership and are staying to address it in a way consistent
with the Bible, see Matt. 18:15ff. above, then it may be right to stay. However,
if you are staying to be a thorn in the side of the church leaders or to fight against
things you just don’t like, be very careful:
Jude
1:16
These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their
own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain
advantage. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which
were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last
time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having
the Spirit.
5. I don’t want to lose
the benefits I have earned over the years there.
Many churches have cemeteries,
fellowship halls or even gyms to benefit members and/or the community. They may
also have programs that reward years of service or meet very practical needs that
might otherwise be met by a child care facility, hobby or club. It may
be hard to let go of these things and choose to leave, but if they are all that
is keeping you there, you need to re-commit for the right reasons or leave for
everyone’s good. Some of these extra benefits churches have gotten involved in
can be helpful, but clearly the Bible never envisioned people being committed to Christ's church for any reward/reason other than a love for the Lord, His word and the fellowship
of believers. Getting another year’s service pin, a cemetery plot or getting to
spend fun time with some friends may be OK, but they are very poor substitutes for
a proper Biblical commitment to the church.
1
Cor. 3:16
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that
the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If
anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God
is holy, which temple you are.
"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights
reserved."
