It Used to Be Different!

Bill Brinkworth

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: … 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Prov. 6:16-19

Too many stand at a ministry’s sidelines and murmur, often to others, “Our church is not what it once was. We used to:

“Have more in attendance on Sunday morning,
“Have higher offerings,
“Have many out soul-winning and a larger outreach to our community,
“Have sermons that challenged and convicted me,
“Have a larger children’s ministry …” or a host of other observations.

Although there may be some truth in what one sees in the ministry, a question needs to be asked. How were you involved in the different aspects of the ministry, when things were “better” and how are you involved in the ministry now?

Are you being faithful in your church attendance? Do not criticize others when you are not faithful. It may be that your lack of faithfulness has caused others not to come.
Perhaps you have even decreased or stopped your giving. How can you expect God to bless the church, when you are not doing your best or even helping as much as you could? It is not right to expect others to do something you are not doing.
When was the last time you went out soul-winning or visited those that were sick and unable to attend church? Are you doing what the Lord requires of you in that area?
Are others commenting on the “good preaching” or apparently being stirred by the preaching and you are not? If so, maybe you are not being blessed by the preaching because of a spiritual problem you are having. Maybe the problem is not the preaching, but iniquity you have harbored in your heart that is keeping you from being blessed by the preaching.
Are you one of those that used to do something for the Lord and now are not; or were you only an observer then, as you are now? Perhaps your lack of doing something when things were “better” only put a larger burden on those that attempted to do something for the Lord. Maybe they just wore out because of others’ lack of encouraging involvement!

It is easy to criticize what others are doing, but that type of activity usually discourages others and plants seeds of discontentment that others may harvest. Be a solution to any challenges your church may be facing now; get involved. If you are the only one still serving, then stay by the “plow.” Do not give up. Do not be part of the problem; be part of the solution.

“If the person you are complaining to cannot change the situation, chances are that the 'complaining' is gossip or 'sowing seeds of discord'!”

This article was featured in the Bible View #351.