Too Many Hot Dog Eaters In The Stands
Author Unknown--Via
Conyers, GA Beacon
“Just remember, every
baseball team could use a man who plays every position, never strikes out, and
never makes an error. The trouble is, there is no way to make him lay down his hot dog and come
out of the stands.” (James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited)
Evidently, the church is not like baseball. It would be great if we had some people who
could play every position perfectly:
preach like the prophets, sing like the angels, teach
like Jesus, and who could speak words that gave strength to the weak, comfort
to the hurting, encouragement to the disheartened, and faith to the
doubting. Trouble is,
there’s no way to get them to lay down their hot dogs and come out of the pews.
* I’ve
known lots of people who could critique Sunday’s sermon over the dinner table,
but who never once stood in front of people and proclaimed Jesus.
* I
have known people who criticized Bible class teachers, but who would never take
the job.
*
Doubtlessly, there are far more people who know how the church ought to operate
than who help get things done.
* I
have even known of people complaining about the selection of food at the latest
“pot-luck” or “basket dinner,” but who would not bring anything to
put on the table.
I
have got a surprise for you. The church
is only what its members are. You can’t
advertise your congregation into a new reality.
You can advertise, but it won’t change what you really are. What you really are is more like your actions
and less like your words (unless, of course, your actions and words are the
same).
Everyone wants a great church, but too often, they want someone else to
build it for them. You want a great
church? Good. Stop critiquing and criticizing everyone else
and pay attention to your own contribution.
Put down your hot dog, come out of the pew, and help us build it.