Have you ever had the
occasion to be involved in a business operation that lacked real
organization? I'm talking about those situations in which the operators
have an idea about what they want to do and how to do it, but are not
quite organized enough to the point that anything ever gets done. Most
often, the problem is not that they do not have the capability to
accomplish the tasks and goals, but that somewhere down the line, the
tasks and goals have not been communicated effectively to all the
employees, and more than a few are confused as to their proper role in
the organization, with some just not knowing anything at all about what
they should be doing. The consequence of the confusion is that nothing -
or at least very little - gets done, and an organization that could have
been successful fails.
Sad to say, such
confusion is often the cause of many local churches not accomplishing
much in the work they should be doing. Many members of local churches of
Christ are confused as to their part in the work of the local church,
and as a result, much work is being neglected and much is left undone.
Part of the confusion has come about because individuals do not know the
Scriptures well enough to know their part and their responsibilities,
but some of the confusion has come about because those who are teaching
and leading them have deceived them (either intentionally or
unintentionally) by saying that whatever the individual Christian can do
the church can do. The end result of that argument is that local
churches have abrogated the individual's responsibilities by creating
additional organizations, attaching it to the local body, and then going
to great lengths to convince the members that the work they each should
have been doing as individual Christians is now being accomplished
through these unauthorized additions to the church Christ established.
Think about it for a
minute: When your leaders tell you that you do not have to personally
lift a finger (except to write a check or donate a sum of money) to
accomplish some of the Christian's duties, how likely is it that the
members will personally get involved in fulfilling those
responsibilities? If I have been told all my life that "we" (the local
church) are helping "widows and orphans" (vicariously, through another
organization other than the local church itself, such as an orphans'
home or "old folks" home), or if I am told "we" are bringing the gospel
to the world (vicariously, through a missionary society), or if I am
told "we" are feeding the hungry (vicariously, through a "food bank"),
how likely will I be to help someone out when they come to me directly?
The end result is that individuals have handed over their
responsibilities to others to fulfill, and as long as they pay to have
it done (no matter how small the amount they may actually contribute),
they can rest at ease with the assurance they have "done their duty."
This attitude is more common that what you may think, sad to say.
This is not a problem
confined to the matter of human institutions, either. When it comes to
hospitality, some apparently think the same way, for when they have an
opportunity to show true hospitality, they will gladly point the needy
one to a hotel, or, in some cases, literally take them by the arm to
talk to the elders or to the preacher because they see it as "their
job," not one of personal obligation. Especially for preachers who
happen to be living in the house owned by the local church, they are
often "expected" to accommodate any visiting preachers or Christians who
just happen to be passing through. I am not making this up! I can
explain this no other way than to say that those who act in this way no
doubt believe that "they" are fulfilling their responsibilities because
they have contributed money, either for the preacher's support or by
monies that paid for the preacher's house, or because they believe the
elders are acting "on behalf of the entire congregation."
And what about
evangelism? This attitude is seen often when this subject arises. Though
many will not come right out and say it, their actions belie their true
feelings: that is "the preacher's job." Believing they have fulfilled
their duty to "Go
into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature"
(Mark
16:15), they sit
back and wait for "the preacher" to do it, never thinking about their
own inactivity in this field. Some are offended when others say they are
lacking in their responsibility to teach the lost, and will unashamedly
point to their monthly report about how much "they" are "paying the
preacher" or how much "they" spent (as a local church) on advertising or
tracts or Bible class material or radio ads or billboards or whatever
source of communication to which "they" have contributed.
Brethren, it pains me to
have to write this about us, but it is true, nonetheless. This is a
shameful attitude that has prevented us from accomplishing the deeds
that we, as individuals, should be doing and, worse, we believe we are
actually doing it. While many Christians are out there taking this
meaningful and urgent task upon themselves (as they should), many others
are neglecting - shirking - their responsibilities and convincing
themselves (and others) that "they" are really working hard to do all
the things the Lord would have us do.
It saddens me when I hear
such attitudes among my brethren - and not because I am a preacher. It
saddens me because I see how much we could be doing and how many could
benefit from the teaching and hospitality and benevolence and love for
others. I think about the death of Jesus on the cross and how He died in
my place, and I wonder how many people may be thinking, "I have paid for
my sins," because He died for them. If they think "they" are doing all
these other things, why would they not think such when they see our Lord
on the cross? God forbid!
Let us not be confused as
to our individual responsibilities, brethren. Not a one of us is going
to get into heaven because someone else did what we were commanded to do
or because we paid for them to do it. In the end, "we
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may
receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done,
whether good or bad."
(2
Cor. 5:10) We will
be judged for what we, as individuals, have either done or left undone
(cf.
Matt. 25:31-46).
The consequence of this confusion will be lost souls. So, what are you
doing?
Respond
to this Article on My Blog:
http://larryrouse.blogspot.com/2009/05/consequence-of-confusion.html
Other Articles by Steven Harper
A
Soft Answer vs. A Soft Answer
Persistence
