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What I Owe the Local Church
Let us first point out some matters with which we surely would agree. Surely, every Christian desires to do what is right in the sight of God. He wants to properly discharge his duties In whatever realm he is involved.
The New Testament speaks of the Lord's church in three ways: (1) the church everywhere, the universal church: (2) the local church, local congregation, and (3) the people of God assembled for worship. The Lord wants us to be concerned about the church in whatever sense we use the term. Our lesson centers on the local church.
In Acts 9:26-28, Paul, after obeying the gospel and being added to the church as obedient believers are (Acts 2:47), came to the city of Jerusalem and wanted to be Identified with brethren in that locality. He wanted their fellowship, their association, to give and receive the strength, comfort, and encouragement that comes to members of the local church together.
"And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken of him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem."
Universally
We have a duty to the church everywhere because it is the body of Christ. But we especially have a duty to the local congregation to which we belong. It is in the local church that we serve. The church universal has no governmental structure other than Christ as the head of the church. Each congregation is independent of the other, self-governing within the teaching of the Bible. Where a local church has members that have a keen sense of local responsibility you will have a happy, growing, active, strong church of Christ. We want to bring a few of these duties to our attention.
Locally
We all want the local church to radiate a godly influence, Therefore, every member has the duty to live a godly and righteous life. "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." (Titus 2:12). We are to be as a city set on a hill, the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). When we fall in this we do injury to the cause of Christ and to every other brother and sister in the Lord. It is not just our own business what we say, do, or think. When it concerns others, as influence always does, we owe it to others to be what we profess to be: followers and imitators of Christ. What hurts one member hurts the entire body.
Some Desires and Duties
We want the home church to stand for the truth. This is what the church is assigned to do; namely, to be the pillar and ground of the truth (I Timothy 3:15). This demands knowledge by the membership that comes only through study and prayer. Each is obligated to grow (II Peter 3:19). It is not an optional matter. "Study..." is a command of II Timothy 2:15). Can we afford to deliberately forsake opportunities to learn more of God's will as revealed in the Scriptures?
Members of the church have the duty to hold up the hands of the preachers who come their way when they teach the truth, and to resist and oppose any who do not preach sound doctrine. No church will long remain spiritually strong before God that is not concerned with sound doctrine and purity of the message of truth. Are you doing your part in standing by truth?
We want those who visit in our services, strangers, newcomers, to feel welcome among us. We need to show a genuine interest and concern for them. Hospitality and courtesy is the least we can offer (Hebrews 13:1). We may know that we are glad they are with us, but are we attentive to our part In making sure that they know it?
Do not wait until somebody else speaks to you. Speak to them first. They may be a visitor just waiting for some warm, sincere, and kind greeting. We owe it to the local church to create that atmosphere of people being wanted. This ought not be an artificial, pretended show of interest but because our interest is genuine.
The Leadership
We want the local church to have good leadership. We all must exercise great caution in the selection of those who serve as leaders in any capacity. But alongside good leadership must be good fellowship. This we all can help make a reality.
Those who lead are men, just human beings. not infallible. They are subject to making mistakes, doctrinally and in matters of judgment, like other people. Collectively they work at leading as an eldership. But their mistakes are kept at a minimum when they realize that those they lead are behind them, encourage them, appreciate their efforts, and try to cooperate with them as best they can. When a member Is assigned a duty, or assumes some responsibility, he owes it to the local church and the leadership to discharge that duty to the very best of his human ability. It is the Lord's work that is involved. Loyalty to leadership Is not necessarily an endorsement of every decision they are called upon to make in every matter of human judgment. We should strive for unity in matters of doctrine, and exercise consideration toward any who might differ with us in any matter. Some brethren, sometimes even elders, seem to have forgotten there is a "golden rule."
We must take their leadership seriously (I Timothy 5:19), and not be too eager to hear and pass along some criticism. Leaders sometimes fail. But let it never be because their followers failed them.
Some brethren make leading so difficult. How would you like to lead an army like the one we now describe. Picture a squadron of men called for drill and the morning roll call. The sergeant calls out, "Smith. Where is Smith?" Somebody explains that Smith has a new boat and has gone to the lake. Then the sergeant calls for Jones. "Where is Jones?" Well, Jones had company and could not make it this time. He said he would see him next roll call. "Where is Brown?" It just so happened that Brown was cleaning his car. Someone said Brown had said this was about the only time he could get it done because he was so busy the rest of the time. "Where is Adams?" Well, it then is brought to light that the sergeant had said something that offended Adams and he just was not going to come back until the sergeant apologized. As for Thompson, he just overslept. But White was there, because he did not have anything else to do that morning.
How would you like to lead an army that had no more loyalty to duty than these soldiers? Yet, that is what many elderships have to lead. Are we like some of these?
Vital Signs
We want the local church to be active, alive, vigorous, and enthusiastic. But, although many brethren do not believe it, without faithful attendance at the worship services, this quality will be lacking. Worship is a privilege as well as a duty. Poor attendance will cause a local church to dry up and die.
When you get sick and go to the doctor, he checks your vital signs like blood pressure, heartbeat rate, temperature, insurance policy, and other things of importance to your health. Attendance is one of the vital signs of a local church. While we are not interested in numbers for the sake of numbers about which to brag, we are concerned for souls. When members of the local church have a habit of being irresponsible in attendance it saps the life out of a church regardless of how fine the preacher. eldership, building, etc. We owe it to the local church to be present at the local assemblies faithfully as often as physically possible.
Our contribution ought be into the local treasury also. While we may visit, and even make many contributions to worthwhile causes, the bulk of our giving should be at home. This is because the home expenses continue even though we might have to be elsewhere on a given Sunday. Make sure our contribution finds it way home.
The local church should be one that is a winner of souls. "He that winneth souls is wise." (Proverbs 11:30). We have a duty to the local church to make the effort to convert others. Most churches leave that almost entirely to the preacher, possibly one or two others. This is one reason we are not converting more than we are. Are members supposed to care for the lost, or just a select few? The early church was characterized by the membership taking the gospel to the lost wherever they went.
The home church ought to be a church of great warmth. It ought to be a refuge from the storms of life. There should exist consideration, genuine concern, and love throughout the membership. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35).
Something to Cut Out
There is no place among members of the local church for cutting, harsh, calloused indifference and bitter words~ How earthly parents are grieved when children tear at each other. Is God any less displeased? Yet, we have seen and known brethren who seem to delight in creating hard feelings, saying unkind things, provoking all manner of hurt for their brethren, and acting as if they did not even belong to the same spiritual family. We have heard members the church do this to one another, and to preachers, elders, and deacons.
Personality peculiarities, petty problems, varying views in matters of judgment are not to be allowed to cast a frigid chill over the warmth of brotherly love. When this happens, the local church is hurt by it, and the Lord will hold the guilty responsible for creating a bad climate. We need to ask, "What kind of church would this church be, if every member was just like me?"