HOW TO HAVE
A
Author Unknown --Via Rivergate Messenger,
Someone
has said, “If you want good government, be a good citizen.” Let’s take this same thought and apply it to
the church.
Most of us
believe the church could be better than it is.
It could do a better work than it is doing and we would like for these
things to happen. But we forget that we
are part of the church and think of it only as it applies to others instead of
remembering that the success or failure of the church is in our hands. We make it what it is.
If you want a good church let us say good
things about it. It is a fearful
thing to be critical of the church but some people do not seem to realize
this. If things do not go to their
liking, or if they feel that they have not been given the attention they think
they deserve, they begin to say critical things about the church. Some people even leave because of the way
they feel. In most cases, it is a lack
of understanding, or something in our own hearts that cause us to feel this
way. But regardless of what causes it,
we are treading on dangerous ground when we say hard things about the church,
the Lord’s bride. Some people have even
said critical things about the church to those who do not now what the church
is, and then wonder why they are unable to influence that person to go to worship
with them. We destroy any future
influence one in the church may have in the life of those to whom we criticize
them. Or we destroy our own influence if
those to whom we talk know better. Think
how much good could be done if people would be always saying something good
about the church. Even those who never
become critical lose the opportunity to do good by never saying anything. Surely there is something good about the
church we can all say. Then let’s find
it and talk to others about it. “Let the
redeemed of the Lord say so.”
If we want a good church let us do something
good for it. There is something every member can do to
make the church better. Loyal attendance
at all services will help both ourselves and the
church. Being friendly with those we
meet there, especially visitors will do more good than we can imagine. Having a part in the service will help us and
others. The singing will be better if we
all sing. The prayer will be better if
we enter into it with the one leading us.
The preaching will be better if we will give our attention to it, and we
might be surprised to find now and then that something is said that helps us to
better living. No one can do everything
that needs to be done, but everyone can do something.
If we want a better church invite others to
share its blessings with us. Since we are the
Lord’s people and have been given the responsibility of bringing others to Him
we cannot escape our responsibility in this matter. When we have brought a soul to Christ we have
done the best thing that will ever be done for him in all his life. But not only have we saved a soul but we have
helped to save our own. There is no
happier feeling than that experienced by one who has been responsible for
bringing another to Christ. If you do
not believe this ask someone who has had this experience. No wonder those who engage in this work feel
closer to the Lord when they are doing it than any other time. They are closer to Him because they are
helping Him to save souls. Many people
will attend services with us if they are invited. Few will come if not invited.
If we want the church to be better then let
us live according to the teaching of our Lord before our fellow men. What they see and believe about the church
will be what they see in us. If our
language is not that becoming to a follower of Christ they cannot believe that
Christ lives in us. If our conduct is
such that they know Christ would not approve they will refuse to believe that
we are truly His followers. If we do not
feel enthusiastic enough about Christianity to speak of it to them they will
not feel that it means much to us. But
if we live in keeping with the Lord’s will and are thrilled at the opportunity
of serving Him, others will be attracted to Him because of the life we
lead. In the early days when people saw
the faithfulness and happiness of the follower of Christ they were moved to
hear the message they had to bring. People
are no different today.
.