Last week I presented 6 of 10 philosophical statements that author Gene Bedley asserts are acknowledged by good schools. These points were presented in a San Bernardino Sun column written by Reed Markham, under the title "How you can tell if your child’s school is a good one" – an idea gleaned from author Gene Bedley.
As I mentioned last week, I was intrigued at how applicable the points were to the proper functioning of the local church. The final four points are presented in this article. But first, a quick reiteration of the first six points:
So, let’s pick up where we left off:
One of the great challenges to preachers is to balance teaching from the pulpit in such a way as to heed the threefold design of preaching as stated by Paul in 1 Timothy 4:1-2, "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." Look at those three points, separately:
Faithful preaching is never, always reproving or admonitory. By design, preaching should be teaching, whatever approach or methodology may be used. And, it must also be patient.
Any idiot can catch people being bad, and not a few preachers are quite good at that. But, how are these same preachers when it is time to catch the people of God doing well? Time and again, Biblical writers commended faithful conduct. Paul commended the Romans (who had their share of even doctrinal problems, see 15:14) and Jesus found something of worth in the vilest of sinners in whom others saw nothing of worth (see Luke 7:36-50).
Incorporating the principles of the previous point, we need to remember that each member of the body of Christ has dignity and worth, regardless of the quality of their makeup. It is easy for us to fall into patterns of our own making, all the time disregarding other matters of concern. We are told, for example, "My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism" (James 2:1), yet we commonly make decisions based upon the dress, appearance, race and nationality of others. Brethren, such attitudes and actions should never be found among the people of God!
We are expressly told to not allow ourselves to become "haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly" (Romans 12:16). When is the last time YOU associated with the lowly, however you choose to define it.
It is precisely because all saints have dignity and worth that God chastens us for our own good (Hebrews 12:10). He may do this by self-recrimination when our consciences rebuke us for the wrong we do, or through the faithful efforts, both individual and collective, of His people (such as the admonitions in song, preaching, or from those in oversight). The principles of obedience we instill in our children are as effectual in our own lives, but only if they are present.
Our actions have consequences. Good actions produce good and positive results, even as our wrong choices bring unpleasant and negative results. We all know this to be true, yet we are sometimes less than vigilant in disciplining ourselves when we sin, even though we know that when we fail in testing ourselves (whether we be in the faith) we will have consequences to face.
I am always amazed to find that many churches (including elders and preacher) feel that when they continue to do the same old things they have always done with marginal results, they will (for some unknown reason) have a different result. The point is not that change for the sake of change is the answer, but rather that our attitudes toward what we do must change. Furthermore, our execution of these "same old things" needs to undergo wholesale renewal!
We can rest assured that decline will continue in churches that do not acknowledge the consequences for bad decisions and choices. All the while, churches that are being constantly disciplined unto better choices, and more effective ways of showing those choices will see immediate changes in results that turn potentially "bad" churches into vibrant, healthy and active churches that are worthy to wear His name.
There will be better attitudes, greater willingness to contribute self, more peace, enhanced cooperation, greater participation in worship, and deeper desire for fellowship. There will be healthier attitudes toward growth (and one another), bigger opportunities for the future, higher expectations of accomplished goals, finer choices for moral living, and a more excellent pursuit of love in every walk of life. In short, there will be a real hunger and thirst for righteousness that God has promised to fill!
How can it be said any better? Obviously, people are important, since Jesus died for them. We dare not neglect the God-ordained attention that is due to every man, woman, boy and girl. The greatest impeding factor in recognizing this important fact is our apparent belief that, for some inexplicable reason, WE are more important than THEY. In Christ Jesus, there is no "we" and there is no "they," unless perhaps we are speaking of all who are in Christ contrasted to all who are in the world. But, even then, the we/they contrast fails in the reality that we are all, saints and sinners, recipients of Divine providence and in need of Divine forgiveness.
Remember this, the Lord came not to be served, but to serve others. We can do no more than He did and if we are doing what he did, our future is bright, our goals assured, and "our" church will be the best it can possibly be!
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