Are We Doing Our Part?

Summer 2003 was a very challenging time for the Eagle Lake church of Christ, but it did have a “silver lining.” Our preacher, Gene Elmore, suddenly passed from this life on June 22, 2003. We “tried out” a few preachers for the work, but our elders decided to help support one of our members to attend the Florida School of Preaching. Though it did not work out for him, the Lord has since blessed us with other students that we could and continue to support in their training as preachers. In order to do this, the editor of the bulletin agreed to work with the congregation in preaching and teaching. Exactly five years ago today, the August 10, 2003, bulletin contained the following excerpt:

Supporting the truth and those laboring therein requires sacrifice, financial and otherwise....Concerning the “otherwise” part of the sacrifice mentioned above, since we cannot afford a full-time preacher [under the present circumstances] ...I will gladly do most of the preaching and teaching during this time. However, I will not be as accessible as would be a full-time preacher due to my work with the school. Each of us, therefore, will have to make extra efforts in reaching the lost of this community, visiting the sick, and encouraging one another. I will be available for all of these, but not always at the “drop of a hat.” With the Lord’s help, however, we must truly function as his body, each doing his or her part for the whole (1 Cor. 12:12-27).

As we consider our condition five years later from when this was written, are we better or worse as a congregation? A comparison of statistics from 2005, the earliest averages available to the editor, reveals that most of our numbers have dropped. Obviously, some things are beyond our control, such as members moving out of town or going to be with the Lord. Also, we realize that numbers are not everything. However, when we examine ourselves, let us answer honestly: Have I contributed to the betterment of this congregation? One way to answer this question is to ask: If every member of the congregation thought and did as I do, what kind of congregation would we have?

What Do We Think About The Church?

What does the “church of Christ” mean to you? How about the “Eagle Lake church of Christ”? How do you prioritize “church” in your world? The Bible clearly defines “church” as the body of Christ. Paul said that the Father “hath put all things under his [Christ’s] feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23 cf. Eph. 5:23). Paul also said that Christ is “the head of the body, the church” (Col. 1:18). The church that Jesus promised to build (Mt. 16:18) was built on the first Day of Pentecost following His resurrection (Acts 2:41, 47). We became members of that one and only body of Christ (Eph. 4:4) through baptism—“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free” (1 Cor. 12:13).

Do we truly understand that the church of Christ is the body of Christ? Do we really comprehend that the Eagle Lake church of Christ is the local body of Christ that meets in Eagle Lake for worship and congregational Bible study? If we actually understood these things, then how can some take so lightly their obligations to the church, the body of Christ? It’s not about Charles Thornhill, Calvin Hubbard, or Bill Thornhill. It’s not about Brian Kenyon, the song leaders, or the Bible class teachers. It’s about the Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus said that we are to “seek...first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Mt. 6:33). What do we think about the “kingdom” and/or the “righteousness” of God? Do we not want to be a faithful part of the body of Christ?

What Do We Do About The Church?

“Actions speak louder than words” is a well-known expression that teaches a tremendous truth. We can say we love and appreciate the church, the body of Christ, all we want, but our actions confirm whether or not we really do. What controls our actions? Our thoughts! Jesus declared, “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Mt. 12:35). The psalmist adds, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Pr. 23:7).

What do our actions right now say about our thoughts of the body of Christ? What does our sporadic attendance at church services say about what we think of the church? When we allow ourselves to be too busy and tired for Christ and His church, what does that say about our attitude toward the church? Many of us have been members of the church long enough that others should have every reason to expect us to be reliable and involved with the church, the body of Christ. In fact, if those of us who should be mature in the Lord are not involved in the church, how will this congregation ever perpetuate itself? We should be involved in converting lost souls to Christ (Mk. 16:15-16), but how can we when it seems that many of our own members are not converted to Christ? Let us think on the seriousness of the church and allow our actions to show we care!

What Do We Do About The Future?

Since the August 10, 2003, bulletin, the editor’s responsibilities have greatly increased. Since that time, he is now editing the church bulletin and putting together the Wednesday night class notes, both of which take tremendous time and energy. Since that time he has also been appointed associate director of the Florida School of Preaching (and director beginning May 2009) and edits the Harvester, its monthly newsletter. This is said not to indicate disinterest on the preacher’s part, but to show that now more than ever our membership needs to step up. As stated in 2003, “I will gladly do most of the preaching and teaching during this time....however, we must truly function as his body, each doing his or her part for the whole (1 Cor. 12:12-27).”