"What Must We Do to Grow?"

By: Kevin Rhodes

       There are no easy answers to the question asked above.   Some are suggesting that we must change the Church to accommodate the Baby Boomers and Generation X.  But, the last time I checked, a bride tries to prepare herself in order to please the groom--not her old boyfriend. Others oversimplify the solution by simply saying, "Preach the Word!"  This must, of course, be the message since it alone saves (Jas. 1:21), but to my knowledge there are places that have held fast to the preaching of the word while numbers continue to drop.  This should make it abundantly clear that more is needed than a gospel preacher in the pulpit.  If we are to grow, we must be willing to face the facts about ourselves, that growth depends upon how well we ourselves are practicing New Testament Christianity.

      For the Church to grow Christians must recognize that there is a need to grow (Acts 8:4).  We may look around and see pews now empty that once were full; we may notice the numbers on the "tote" board going down; we may be able to tell that our youth are not as interested as they once were.  But at the very heart of the problem is the fact that we are not totally convinced in our hearts that there is only one church (Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4), that there is only one way to heaven (Jn. 14:6), and that people throughout the world, this country, and our community are lost souls (Matt. 16:26).  The need to grow is simply another way of stating that souls need to be saved, and we must recognize it as such if we are to grow.

      For the Church to grow parents must train their children properly (Prov. 22:6).  We continue to lose our young people to the world.  We are just now beginning to rebound from the Dr. Spock era (and error) of non-disciplinary policy, but some parents still prefer the words of a child psychologist to the admonition of a faithful Creator, "The rod and reproof give wisdom:  but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame" (Prov. 29:15).  The children leaving the church are the same children who were given a free reign, allowed to make all of their own decisions (and left uncorrected), and basically taught very little about the existence of standards.  It is unfortunate that the parents are often the last ones to know that their child is going to be lost because of their failure in the home.  It is time for parents to take the responsibility of training again instead of leaving it to the church or, worse yet, to daycare.  Parents, look to those older parents who have raised their children to be faithful Christians and ask them what they did:  Then do it!

      For the Church to grow Christians must know the word of God (Hos. 4:6).  The ignorance which plagues the church today should be enough evidence to show how poorly we have trained our children, to demonstrate the lack of instruction going on in our Bible class programs, and to give testimony regarding the shallow preaching which has been going on for years.  But these things would not have been allowed to occur had the people not loved to have it so.  We must demand more from our Bible classes; we must train our children; we must emphasize the need for preachers to study and not "pastor."  And finally, we must personally regain a hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt. 5:6) and a babe's desire for the word of God (1 Pet. 2:2).  You can not teach what you do not know.  If we will but dedicate ourselves to learning the Book of books, we might be surprised how much easier it is to talk to people about their souls and spiritual things.  Knowledge and confidence cure many ills in evangelism.

      For the Church to grow Christians must be truly committed to the cause of Christ (Lk. 9:23; 14:28).  It is highly unlikely that anyone will ever be converted by a marginal member who does not himself show any commitment to Christ or His Church.  We need people who are willing to undergo suffering, lose a job, pass up a promotion, or work to weariness, etc. if the Church is to grow.  Most people know how hard it would be to sell a product of which they were not confident themselves.  In a similar way, Christians must demonstrate to others that they believe in and are committed to New Testament Christianity.  Only in this way will people see the  appeal of the pure gospel.  When others see a people truly committed, they will wonder what is the reason of the hope that is in us (1 Pet. 3:15).

      For the Church to grow the lives of Christians must differ substantially from those in the world (Rom. 12:2; 2 Cor. 6:17).  On the whole, we have become a people who are nonchalant about our Christianity, wishing to avoid any hint of fanaticism, in efforts to be more accepted by the world.  What we have misunderstood is that in doing so we have become more and more like the world.  Is it so unbelievable that we are not growing when people in the world cannot detect a substantial difference in their own lives and that of Christians?  Our lives should be shining examples of all the good things which God has offered us (Matt. 5:13-16; Jas. 1:17; Eph. 1:3).  Only when people see something in our lives which their lives lack will the Church grow.

      For the Church to grow we must regain a spiritual focus (Rom. 8:5; Phil. 4:8).  We have lost our spiritual focus as Christ's spiritual kingdom with a spiritual standard, spiritual goals, and spiritual purpose.  In attempts to keep up with the Joneses (insert your favorite denomination), the church has become more and more worldly in its approach to a people with spiritual problems.  We may solve all of the social problems for people, but in doing so we have left our purpose.  We may draw a great number in with our parties and gymnasiums, but we have missed the spiritual goal of saving souls.  We may have created (or borrowed) religious ideas which make us more "user friendly," but in doing so we are leaving the gospel message which is the standard of truth (Jn. 17:17).

      For the Church to grow we must be a united people (Jn. 17:21-23).  No one can deny the destructive influence of the division caused by doctrinal error, sins against one another, failures to communicate properly, etc.  But if we would mature as the people of God so that both truth and love would be cornerstones of all we do, we would be united--and people will be drawn to  Biblical unity.

            For the Church to grow Christians must realize that there are no easy solutions (1 Cor. 3:6).  It takes individual, congregational, and brotherhood-wide determination and effort.  But, most of all, it takes you!

White Robes

By: Keith McNeely

             The phrase “white robes” appears three times in the book of Revelation. On the third occasion we have a question and answer session that reveals to us some beautiful, biblical points; note them now.

            First the question, “What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they?” (Revelation 7:13).  Next, the text gives a beautiful answer, “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14). To read such a text is certainly a blessing. It is my belief that these being discussed here are those in the first century that had gone through the persecution, and remained faithful unto the Lord; faithful even to the point of encountering death for the cause of Christ (Revelation 2:10).

            Second, notice these two verses a piece at a time. Some of the Bible topics entailed in the given answer include being washed in the blood, and the trials of living the Christian life. Paul would write to the youthful Timothy, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12). The topic of blood atonement runs throughout the Bible. The “blood of Christ” (Hebrews 9:14) is said to, “cleanseth us from all sin” if we will “walk in the light” (1 John 1:7).

            Third, on two different occasions John uses pronouns (these and they) indicating and reminding us that the Christian life they lived in the first century, and that we live today, includes personal involvement. At our jobs we are not allowed to substitute someone to work for us; we each have to pull our own weight, likewise with Christianity.  God requires each of us that are of accountable age to live our own Christian lives.

            Fourth, visualize how bright and white their linen robes were. They were “made...white in the blood of the Lamb.”  I cannot imagine a more beautiful sight - that of those individual’s black, sinful lives being purified to a brilliant white by the blood of Jesus Christ!