A Dead Church
A dead church in any community in which it may be located blights the effects of the gospel of Christ, and so long as it remains in this reposed state, it will continue to incur against it the wrath of the Almighty God. God's anger is kindled against such a dormant and ignominious congregation, because it frustrates "the grace of God" and sets at naught a great potential for good. Perhaps several sins brought about its downfall, but we believe that there was one besetting sin that contributed more than the others to bring this church down to its present level, and that sin points to its individual members — they neglected to engage in personal work in their neighborhood; they failed to "abound in the work of the Lord" (I Cor. 15 58). Such a church has become devoid of feeling for the lost souls who live within its perspective, and it is doing nothing of note to project the saving gospel of Christ to them. Furthermore, it is cumbering the ground in which it was planted; it is injurious to the cause of Christ; and though the building in which it meets is graced with the words "Church of Christ Meets Here", it is as repugnant to the Lord as was the church as Sardis (Rev. 3:1-3). While such a group enjoys a feeling of smugness and complacency in a community where it is privileged to assemble, the world dies at its doorstep! To those who are faithful and fear God — it is shocking! It is terrible! This local church in its "status quo" will not be spared in judgment (Rev. 2 4).
The Lord's church is most valuable; yet as with all precious things — it can be misused, and when it is misused it possesses elements of danger to those who defile it (I Cor. 3 :16-17). When a congregation becomes inactive and dies, it would exercise its prerogative to repent and "Awake... "from the dead" (Eph. 5 :14), for if it continues in its present condition it exerts an evil influence and does irreparable damage. Those members who chance to unite with it will be encouraged to accept its state of inertia, and the young within this church who attain to the years of accountability and obey the gospel will perhaps follow the same pattern of "do-nothing", as by those to whom they look for guidance. Shame it is! It seems that some are never quite content to lose their own souls, but they must carry their children and others with them.
For a dead church to remain in its condemned apathy, let its only effort for reaching those without hope and without God be a seven or a fourteen day protracted meeting once a year (7 or 14 days out of 365); preceded by a scant bit of advertising, and it will continue to sleep, but not in Jesus. Most efforts of this kind are conducted on the ground of mere "custom sake" — just a matter of tradition, and it is no wonder that some churches are not multiplying in disciples in their respective areas. Generally speaking, the only successful meetings are those conducted by churches filled with members who do personal work the year round. Those who constitute the membership of a dead congregation for a long period of time, usually become averse to engaging in personal work of any kind, of course, they would be the last to concede this point, but their apathetical attitude is evident proof of it, as they seem to satisfy their spiritual aspirations by only attending the services. Just think now, to climax it all, some churches like this one under consideration have been referred to as being "sound." God forbid! Brethren, this is too much to digest!
I am made to shudder at such statements! These perhaps think of themselves as being "sound" because they stand against all the modern innovations which plague the church in many places today. Now, we are cognizant of the fact that a church must stand like a solid wall against all such violations of scripture found in these unauthorized changes, but brethren, we must stand for all the law of Christ as it pertains to each individual member (Jas. 2:10), if we are to be "sound", and the individual member's work is one point in the law of Christ.
A church filled with zealous and faithful members will stand as the implacable enemy against sin and iniquity in any locality, and it will exert strength and loyal opposition to all error. Loyal members will not dodge their responsibility to do personal work in and out of season, and these are still the citadel of Christianity. They are trying to carry the gospel to those who live along "the highways and hedges" (Lk. 14 23), and to those elsewhere when there is an open door. Are we not trying to duplicate the early Christians? They, according to their ability, taught both "publicly, and from house to house" (Acts 20: 20). Are we not looking for precept, example, or inferences in God's Word? Check II Tim. 2 :2; Acts 8 4; Jno. 1 41-42; Jas. 1 :27; Gal. 6 :10), and make the application. When we use prudence in our lives as God's children, we will engage in both collective and individual efforts to further the gospel in our own community where we serve in the church of the Lord. Such overt manifestations in the lives of Christians will identify them as God's elect. Dear reader, what about you? "Where art thou"? Are you carrying out your practical duties in personal work, which includes benevolent endeavors, godly living, and true worship? (Jno. 8: 31). We are fearful that if Christ were to come today there would be mass hysteria among many church members who call themselves Christians, and who are just trying to "hang on" to the church in name only. These kinds fill many churches.
What is causing such indifference in local churches in some communities? Why such a deplorable state? Who is to be blamed? Well, we are aware that each one is responsible for his or her condition in the spiritual realm, but we also believe there are conditions that exist today which are mostly responsible for the plight of many churches, and we speak of the weak spiritual condition of many leaders in such churches. Ye know that "If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch (Matt. 15:14), and that is exactly what is happening to many local works. It is axiomatic that if a local church is led by a zealous and godly group of elders, this church will be alive and active. When the leaders of a congregation fail to feed and keep a flock active and full of works and "labor of love" together by being ensamples, faithful members among such groups should try and do something to keep form becoming deceased and separated from God. Preachers should grasp the opportunity to revive a dead church by adopting concrete and specific language in matters pertaining to such a pertinent and important place as that of leaders of the Lord's body in each locality. Dealing in generalities without pinpointing the trouble will cause preachers to become "partaker's of other men's sins" (I Tim. 5:22); it will result in a continuance of an "ease in Zion" way of life, and an injustice is done to a community.
Let us arise, awake unto the harvest for the fields are while and winds and rain are beating the fruit off the vine while we go merrily on our way to eternal destruction and separation from God with no marks on our personal work sheets. The example is of the shepherd checking each one in his flock, going back to see why one sheep did not come to feed, finding it wounded, binding him up, and bringing him back to the fold with love and care ( Fords of life). Shepherds, are we doing this? Preachers, are we preaching as one "crying in the wilderness"? If not, many churches will die, and such blights the effects of the gospel.
13231 Emily Road Dallas, Texas 75240