Gordon Teel
Often I hear the complaint that the elders do not give the members enough things to do to keep them interested. Is this where the trouble lies, or elsewhere? Could it be that the trouble lies with the recent convert? Or, perhaps, with some preacher who has taught that elders must keep all members busy?
Yesterday, I baptized a man of some sixty years who had lived a very sinful life. Before he was completely dry from his baptism he had started talking with his brother-in-law, who had accompanied him to his baptism, about his own need for the Christ. Here is the secret of spiritual growth. This is a work which needs no eldership direction. The love of Christ should constrain us to speak for Him.
I remember another conversion where a young married man was baptized by me one week-night. The next morning before breakfast there was a knock on my door. This young man had gone straight to his brother’s house and talked to him all night. At sunrise he came bringing his brother for baptism. And some people say that they have nothing to do!
The conception of church work which is held by many is such a limited thing! To such people, “church work” is preaching, teaching a class, waiting on the Lord’s table, ushering, counting the money, leading the singing, leading a prayer. These things are important. But are they church work?
I often wonder what happened to that poor Ethiopian eunuch? A babe in Christ way off from all other Christians. There were no elders to watch over him or tell him what to do...no one to “give him something to do in order to keep him interested.” He had not learned that “work” has to be “organized.” He probably just opened his mouth and started talking about the Son of God who had saved him and had given him so much peace and joy. (At least that is what the other Christians “unorganized” were doing in his day—see Acts 8:4). And if that happened, you can be sure that he would not be alone very long.
If you have been one of those who have been losing interest in the church because no one has given you anything to do, may I give you the Lord’s word? “Go home to they friends and tell how great things the Lord hath done for thee.” Mark 5:19. Is it possible that you may be losing interest in Christ? In the one who died that you might live? God have mercy upon you if you have nothing to say about the One who loved you so!
I am not objecting to organizing our work. I feel, however, that some churches are “organized to death.” They spend most of their time “working with organization.” I believe, too, that we are destroying initiative in people. They are afraid to “step out” and do anything on their own. They have little leavening quality. Each Christian is supposed to let HIS INFLUENCE as “salt” and “light” move out to those about him. “As the SPIRIT departs from the church there are desperate efforts to substitute for it various forms, ceremonies, organizations, and sundry activities.”
—Eastridge Exhorter