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Ways to Improve the Church
May we have clearly in the mind just what it Is In this discussion we are trying to Improve. The church has a divine side and a human side. The divine side is from God, of God, perfect in design and every other respect. No man or group of men can improve on anything on the divine side of the church whether we speak of its government, work, worship, message, terms of entrance or any such thing. So much for those who clamor for "change" In the church In these areas.
But the church Is composed of human beings. To be sure It is a composition of a very special group of human beings because they are people who have been washed clean of their sins by the blood of Christ and stand acceptable before God as God's spiritual children. But they are still mere people, subject to temptation, with human frailties, weaknesses, shortcomings, and personality peculiarities, different talents, and all with the capacity of producing various kinds of trouble for themselves and others.
So when we speak of improving the church it should be obvious we are talking about improving the human element of which the church is composed. There really ought not he any question in the mind of anyone that there is always room for improvement even In the very best of members. Let us suggest a few ways we can improve ourselves, and bring glory to God.
Start With Self
We should begin with self. This is probably where we will have the greatest influence if we really apply ourselves to the task. II Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith." Galatians 6:1, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault. ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also he tempted." Self examination is an oft repeated admonition in the Scriptures. As one has said. "A better world begins with me."
Tell yourself, since you are not perfect, that you would not really fit in a perfect church. If you were so fortunate to find that perfect congregation it would cease to he so the moment you became a member of it. This Is not a put down, but simply a recognition of our own limitations. It is realism. We are the saved, but we are not sinlessly perfect (I John 1:8,10). We have been born again (John 3:3-5), hut we are still growing as we are taught to grow (II Peter 3:18). We are in Christ, and to be found faithful in Christ is our task (Revelation 2:10). While we accept the fact that we are not perfect, we should never lean on the reality of our Imperfections to dismiss the necessity of being rebuked and chastened when we go astray. We cannot dismiss our sins on the basis, "Well, I am only human." While we are only human, this is all the more reason for us to constantly be trying to improve.
Criticism and Prayer
We may be able to improve the church by being more careful about our criticisms. Some never seem to have much good to say about the church, but are loaded with criticisms.
When we are tempted to criticize we should accompany that criticism with prayer. We may not always be able to change others, but If we accompany our discovery of faults in others with prayer we shall Improve ourselves. Criticisms are often just and deserving. They are even helpful especially when properly given and properly received. Sometimes they are unjust. They can even become backbiting (II Corinthians 12:20). It Is not hard to find fault In others. We are taught to ever he alert regarding false doctrines that may arise even from among brethren. We should be willing to examine criticism against ourselves regardless of what motive may have prompted It because It just may well be that somebody sees something In us that needs to be corrected and Improved that we have not seen In ourselves. But genuine love will provoke prayer even when we must take Issue over various matters. We should never he so blinded as to think all criticism is had. But let us he sure our motives are pure and our criticisms are helpful.
Find the Best
like improvements in the church by emphasizing the best rather than just concentrating on the worldly and worst brethren. This is not to say that we should ignore or pretend that evil does not arise among us. We should ever be ready to deal with it and rid the church of It. But there are many good faithful brethren. We can accent the dedicated brethren, those who are sincere, working, developing a spiritual mind more and more. Hypocrisy is certainly in the church and none who keep aware of reality would deny it. The hypocrite is a servant of the devil and a powerful weapon in his arsenal. He is a pretender and feigns piety, but every sin that is committed by brethren is not because of hypocrisy or due to their intent to deceive and pretend to be what they are not. Probably more often the sins of brethren are due to ignorance, weakness, and not having yet developed the spiritual strength that others may have already developed.
The devil likes to point out the weaker brethren and never calls attention to the strong and faithful Christians. He likes to present the church to the world only in terms of those who are not what they ought to he. This is not an honest presentation of the kind and quality of people that compose the church, however. Paul took note of faithful brethren (Romans 1:8; I Thessalonians 1:3). In the letters from the Lord to the churches of Asia, while he called attention to those who needed to make tremendous corrections, He also took note of the faithful, even the faithful few. Remember, even the Lord had a Judas. But He also had a John, James, Peter, and Paul. We do well to keep such people in the foreground of our thoughts as we consider the Lord's church.
Personal Responsibility
We make improvement when we do not blame others for our own faults. While we have influence on one another, and often the Influence may not be the best, our ultimate faithfulness Is not dependent on others.
We read in Scripture how Adam tried to blame Eve for his sin. Eve tried to blame the devil. King Saul tried to blame the people. Aaron said the people were at fault for making the golden calf. Blaming others for our own faults has been characteristic of the human family. But facing our personal accountability and responsibility is a sign of reaching a higher level of maturity. We shall each give answer for ourselves (II Corinthians 5:10). Others may provoke us, but this is still no excuse for our wrongs. We are not to return evil treatment for evil treatment (Romans 12:17-21). We have our own Christian duties regardless of what others may or may not do (Galatians 6:9; I Corinthians 15:58).
Being Involved
One way to improve the church, as we consider self, is when we consider some worthy work that is being neglected, and instead of asking why somebody does not do something, get busy doing it. Good works are often neglected. But too few ever seriously consider that they have just as much responsibility to see that a good work is done as their neighbor. We should not feel we have to wait until we are asked or assigned some work before we can be busy. Some seem to think everything must be highly organized before they can do anything. Surely, work done in the name of the church ought have the approval of those who have the oversight. But there are so many personal and individual responsibilities we can discharge if we would only set ourselves to the task. We do not have to wait for anybody to get at it. Self initiative Is a wonderful characteristic and many, fortunately, exhibit this trait. While the harvest is great, the laborers are few (Luke 10:2). We should make ourselves be among the laborers. Some of the most productive Christian work that has ever been done has been done quietly and consistently by individual Christians who go about their life as faithful Christians. without notoriety or fanfare, but who accomplish so much good because they engage in it, like the ant, without somebody having to push and shove them into action (Proverbs 6:6-8). We need to be more as was Alvin York, hero of World War I, when asked why he did what he did. He responded, "I seen my duty and done it." We should look for and see our duty and do it. This would result in improvement of the church.
Attitude and Action Toward Others
We can he considerate and respectful toward others, seeking opportunities to do something beneficial for somebody else, especially those of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). Have you really seriously studied that passage we sometimes call the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12)? The faithful practice of this principle would produce a rich, warm, loving, and brotherly fellowship that would be more akin to the heaven for which we long. Colossians 2:12 speaks of brethren being "knit together in love." Romans 12:10, "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another." Ephesians 2:21 says we are to he fitly framed together. We need the good Influence of each other and should seek the good companionship from brethren (I Corinthians 15:33). while we must stand for the truth, let us try to keep in mind the feelings of others and be as considerate as we can be, toward the young as well as those who are older. We are, after all, of the same spiritual family, brothers and sisters in the Lord (John 13:35). Who could question the fact that the church would be better, the human side improved, if each Christian was more attentive to the welfare of all of God's children!
Seek Solutions
One additional reminder we mention Is to recall that every church has certain problems. This has always been the case and as long as time remains will always be the case because each church is composed of people, imperfect people. Because there are problems is no reflection on the divine side of the church. As stated, that part of the church remains perfect, and is not subject to change. Every age, however, faces challenges. We are no different in that respect. We must learn to distinguish between truth and error, faith and opinion, sins and personality peculiarities. We must resist the pressures from the world and stand together as one against that which seeks to destroy us all. We can and should uphold each other as each one upholds the truth.
While churches have problems we can try to be a part of the solution and not part of the problem. Problems cannot defeat us if we resist them, but we can defeat ourselves by letting problems get the best of us. With the help of God, and by faithfully following His lead as given in His all sufficient Word, we can make the spiritual progress and improvement He expects of us. We can stand firm for the truth without wavering, and be loving at the same time. We can meet each day with hope, assurance, expectation, and enter every noble and righteous task with the determination and resolve we have. In so doing, who can doubt but we will be making improvement In the church!