In virtually every classified section of the newspaper, we find some employer advertising for a "dependable person" to occupy some position of trust and responsibility. I have talked with many business owners who state that finding employees they can count on is their number one problem. No organization can succeed without dependable personnel. The lazy, irresponsible, hit-and-miss type is a shame to his company and hinders its effectiveness.
It is equally true that the local congregation cannot be an effective organization unless it consists of "dependable" Christians; that is, members who will shoulder their responsibilities along with the rest and cooperate to fulfill the mission of the church. While the Bible does not use the word "dependable," it does use equivalent terms such as "steadfast" and "zealous" (see 1 Corinthians 15:58; Titus 2:14, etc.). Every Christian should be characterized by these terms. He should be one who can be "counted on" at all times.
The sad, but true, fact of the matter is, however, that many congregations have a percentage of undependable members: members who couldn't hold down a job for a week if they conducted themselves toward their work like they do toward the church and its work. Let's look at a few examples:
Most congregations adopt a particular series of studies for their Bible classes. This is to facilitate the edification program of the church. Members of the church need to be instructed in the knowledge of the Bible. But the effectiveness of the Bible classes and any sermon series is compromised because of those members who are present only now and then, and thus fail to receive the overall benefit from the series of lessons. To have a thoroughly effective edification program, we need members whose presence we can depend upon.
The Bible authorized a pooling of resources of the members on the first day of the week in order to facilitate the work of the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Obviously, any kind of budget or planned expenditure of funds from the church treasury depends upon the consistent, generous contribution of the members. The church needs members who are dependable in their contribution. We need those who not only are generous, but can be depended upon to plan ahead and give regularly. Because of some who give on an irregular, inconsistent basis, important work of the church must be curtailed, plans left unfulfilled, work not completed.
The sum of all that we are trying to say is simply this: the
church of our Lord needs each member to be dependable in shouldering
our responsibilities; more dedicated in our efforts to put the
kingdom of God foremost in our lives. -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, August, 1996
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"What about those who have never heard the gospel? Are they saved?" "What about the sincere believer who has never been baptized?" "What about the sincere (insert any world religion)? Are they really going to be lost?" "What about this situation?" "What about that situation?" "Is God really going to be so strict?"
These kinds of questions are well-known to those of us who have preached the gospel for any period of time. And, frankly, these are not easy ones to answer. Here are some thoughts for your consideration.
While it may be the case that some of the "What about/what if...." questioners are sincere, it has been my experience that many of them raise those questions to reach the conclusion: 'Therefore, it doesn't really matter what the Bible says about anything.' If, for example, it's a "faith only" advocate who is asking the question about the necessity of baptism, then I just turn the question back on them: "What about the sincere Jew, sincere Hindu, sincere idol worshipper, sincere atheist, etc. who has not yet believed in Jesus? Are we therefore to discount John 14:6?" The point is, if human reasoning is going to be our standard, where do we draw the line?
I may not always know how to effectively respond to such questions as these. But what I do know for sure, is the ultimate source of those questions. The source is Satan! From the very beginning Satan's task has been to raise questions which attack the reasonableness and credibility of God's commands. His first effort was in the Garden of Eden, to Eve: "Thou shalt not surely die..." In other words, 'Does it seem reasonable that a loving Creator would punish you just because you ate this particular fruit?' You can find numerous other examples of Satan's cloven hoof behind the scenes throughout the Bible. (Viz., Nadab & Abhiu in Lev.10; Saul in 1 Sam.15, etc., etc.)
Let's play a little "What If" game of our own here. What if it is the case that Christ, the Righteous Judge, should decide that this sincere _________, who was never baptized for the remission of sins, should be saved anyhow? Let me hasten to say, that there's no way I can affirm that that would be the Judge's decision. But, (stay with me here) what if it were? Would that in any way diminish my responsibility to obey Acts 2:38 and to preach it to others? No way! What if God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, should decide to save the pagan in the remote jungles, even though he never heard of Jesus? Would that reduce my responsibility to hear, believe, obey and take the gospel of Christ to that pagan? No way! What I'm trying to say, is that the source of the question is Satanic, in that the father of all lies, the Great Deceiver, is using those apparently sincere questioners to sow the devil's seed which produces the conclusion that we really don't need to pay attention to what God has said! I may not always know the best way to answer the question - but I recognize immediately where it comes from!
Let me refer you to a passage that has helped me some in my struggles
with this subject. It is Matthew 11:20-24. Read it carefully.
Notice that God's omniscience is such that He is able to know,
not only what man has done, but what he would have done
under a different set of circumstances. Jesus said that Tyre and
Sidon would have repented if they had seen the miracles
done in Chorazin & Bethsaida, and that that was going to
be factored into what was done with them on the day of judgement.
Read it again, and see if that's not what He is saying. Now, if
that's the case, God is able to look at my life and not only see
what I have actually done, but what I would have done under
different circumstances. Is that a fair conclusion? For example:
Polycarp, one of John's converts, willingly chose to be burned
at the stake instead of renouncing Jesus. You and I will hopefully
never be faced with that situation. But what if we were?
What would I do if I had to make Polycarp's choice? Well....
I like to think that I would have done the same thing as that
ancient Christian. But God's wisdom is such that He knows absolutely
what I would do, and that will be factored into the judgement.
Now, having established in our minds the awesome omniscience of
our God and how He is able to use that in the Judgement, this
furnishes me with a ground of confidence and comfort when such
questions are put to me. My answer should therefore be, "I
don't know what God will do. But I do know that that person will
be in the hands of a just, merciful and omniscient God Who will
always do the right thing, because He has perfect knowledge of
all the hypothetical 'what ifs'. I'm willing to leave it in His
capable hands. But in the meantime, my responsibility remains
undiminished to find out from His word what He wants me to
do, and then do it explicitly with all my heart."
When we let hypothetical questions weaken our respect for God's
revelation and our resolve to do His will in spite of all else,
then we have fallen prey to one of the Devil's most successful
devices. May it never be! -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, August, 1996
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From the standpoint of material wealth, Americans have difficulty realizing how rich they really are. By going through a little mental exercise, suggested by Robert Heilbroner, we can set back and count our blessings....
Now after all that, by comparison how rich are we? And with our
wealth comes responsibility to use it wisely, not to be wasteful,
and to help others. Think on these things. - From the Bulletin of the Highland Street church, Memphis, Tennessee.
July 10, 1996.
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Among the characteristics of love, as described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, are the following: "…love is kind…" and "…love doth not behave itself unseemly." One word which might summarize the ideas here expressed would be "respectful." Love carefully considers the feelings of and effect it is going to have upon others. Christians, above all other people, ought to be kind and respectful in their words and actions. Disrespect is a contradiction of these principles of love.
There are a number of ways, obvious to all, in which disrespect is shown. However, it appears that some of us manifest disrespect without intending to do so. Perhaps we have just not stopped to think through the implications of our conduct.
I am talking in particular about conduct during the worship services.
The nature of some public, secular gatherings is such that we
would rarely think of being disrespectful. For example, on such
occasions as a wedding, funeral, graduation assembly, or other
serious gathering, few of us would ever think of clipping our
fingernails, popping our chewing gum, passing notes or, especially,
getting up unnecessarily and stalking out of the assembly before
conclusion. To act so "unseemly" would bring upon our
heads reproach and social disgrace. Yet, all of these disrespectful
practices are seen, from time to time, during our assemblies to
worship and serve the Lord. It apparently has not even occurred
to some of us that our shameful conduct is distracting, offensive
and completely out of place in an assembly of God's people. Think
about it! -- Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, August, 1996
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