 |
| Photo by: arkorn |
When I’m at a summer
camp with other independent Baptist missionaries, inevitably someone asks,
“How’s the church doing?” I guess it’s a logical question. I guess it’s a fair
one.
How’s the church? Hmmm . . . .
My friend might have caught our church in an upswing—better
attendance than in the last ten years, growing Christians, and we’re starting a
choir. Or, she might have caught us at the bottom—poor attendance, backsliding
members, and two divorces.
I usually reply: “Well, we’ve had good times and bad
times.” Or, “Probably something like your church. We have our ups and downs.”
About this time, my questioner is looking for an escape route, and I’m a little
sorry to have given such a dumb answer.
How’s anybody’s church doing?
How’s your
church doing?
A church, by
definition, is a congregation of baptized believers. (I look at ours, and
we have some unsaved people coming regularly, one unbaptized believer, and Christians who are doing well. We also have people with personal problems,
addictions, and sinful habits.) It’s a needy church.
Is that strange? I think not.
If we look back to the beginning of the church in the book
of Acts, there were: divisions, strife, a failing experiment in communal living,
prejudice, lying, immorality, and intolerance. The apostles had their hands
full teaching truth, obedience, and doctrine. They had to combat the idea of people
following people, instead of the Lord. The people
said, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and
I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Paul’s response was, Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in
the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:12b-13)
So, how’s your
church doing?
It’s filled with sinners, some saved and probably a few
that aren’t. Your missionary team is trying its best to share the gospel, disciple,
challenge, and meet needs.
- Some Sundays are great, and some are not.
- Some prayer meetings are well attended, and some aren’t.
- Sometimes the church is growing, and sometimes attendance
is going backwards.
- Some years are rough and slogging, and some are
mountaintop hallelujahs.
- Sometimes you have capable, eager native leaders, and
sometimes your best people move away to another part of the country (or leave
it altogether).
- Sometimes there are no native leaders at all, and you are
doing all the work.
Let’s see God’s
view of the church. I have a feeling it’s not as man sees it—and not as the
missionary usually sees it.
It’s God’s church. It is so very
important for us to recognize the local gathering as God’s church and not ours. God
will do His work in His church. It’s our job to be submissive to His
leadership. (You can read many references to the church of God and church in
God in the New Testament.) The Bible says that God adds to His church saved
people. (Acts 2:47) God cares so much for His church that He sent His Son to
die for it.
The pastor leads
the sheep while relying on the Good Shepherd to lead him. As women in the
church, we need to uphold our pastor in prayer. Pray that God would lead the
church and that the pastor might be sensitive to God’s leadership. Pray for
your pastor’s Bible study, for God’s guidance in his preaching, for the Holy
Spirit’s working in hearts.
If the pastor is your husband, encourage him. Listen to
his messages. Take notes. Nod your head. Make eye contact. Be his best “amen
corner.” (I don’t mean out loud, necessarily.) Find something nice to say to
him after the sermon. (Did something in the message meet a need in your own heart? Did it
convey the gospel clearly? Was it well-organized, well-preached?) Give positive
feedback, every time. Your husband needs this from you.
Be faithful
yourself. Go to church when you are physically able. Don’t go if you’re
contagious or in terrible pain, but otherwise, be there. Be an example to the
believers.
Be cheerful. Nothing
deadens the service more effectively than long faces and complaining words.
Greet, smile, encourage. Many times, women set the tone for happiness. This
happens in the church as well as in the home.
Teach women.
Titus 2:2-5 speaks of the men first, but these characteristics are for the
women, too: That the aged men
be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged
women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false
accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach
the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To
be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands,
that the word of God be not blasphemed. Are
we what we’re supposed to be? Are we actively teaching women? Are we teaching
them what we’re supposed to teach? (The whole outline is given in these verses.)
If we’re not teaching the women in our churches, we’re not doing our job as
“aged” Christian women. (“Aged” speaks of mature Christians, not necessarily
grandmas. “Younger women” includes our daughters.)
Give children the
gospel. Jesus said, Suffer the little
children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of
such is the kingdom of God (Mark 10:14b;
also in Matthew 19:14; Luke 18:16). It is very important to share the
gospel—Jesus crucifixion for their sins, His death, and resurrection—with
children from a very young age (3-4 years old). It is not enough to teach Bible
stories like Jonah and the great fish without sharing the gospel. Jesus said, For as Jonas was three days and three nights
in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in
the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40). Demonstrate how the Old Testament
links to Jesus! Preach Jesus!
Pray for Divine
appointments. God opens doors in amazing ways and in crazy places. I have
watched Him do that for me, and I’m sure you’ve experienced it, too. Keep your spiritual
eyes and ears attentive to the Spirit’s guidance. You’ll be amazed how God uses
you to share Him with others!
Be prepared. Have gospel tracts on you, always. Pray and keep your heart clean before God. Be soul-conscious.
It’s humbling that God—Creator, Redeemer, Perfect
God—could use us at all. What a privilege!
May the Lord bless His church through you!
