The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
May 28, 2006
In
This Issue:
No
Time
by
Steve Klein
The
Booing Spectators
by
Jeff May
No Time
Do we have the time to serve the Lord? A recent study revealed that on average, Americans spend about fifty-four minutes per week on religious activities. Compare this to fifteen hours a week that are spent watching television. How many more hours are spent working, shopping, doing household chores, reading, taking vacations or in recreational pursuits?
In Luke 14, Jesus told a parable about a certain man who made a great supper and invited many. But all those invited made excuses for not coming. For one reason or another, they just didn't have the time.
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"The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.'" (14:18)
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And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.'" (14:19)
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Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'" (14:20)
Like most of us, these people were too busy. Some of the things that occupied their time, and that occupy our time, are more important than others; but surely we would all agree that most of the things that keep us busy are not going to seem very important when this life is over. "Surely every man walks about like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain&ldots;" (Psalm 39:6).
The problem with busyness is that it robs us of happiness, of a living relationship with Jesus, and ultimately of heaven itself. In explaining the parable of the sower, Jesus said, "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity." (Luke 8:14)
Have you ever stopped to think about what would happen if you didn't do some of those things that keep you so busy? Just consider it. Make a mental list of your day by day activities. Ask yourself what the consequence would be if you stopped doing each item on your list or if you did it less often. Chances are that you will find that you can actually get by with spending much less time on certain things without being harmed one bit. One the other hand, unless we make time to serve the Lord, harm will come. We cannot kill time without injuring eternity. So, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, {16} redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16).
-- Steve Klein
Have you ever noticed who does the booing at a ball game? It's not the players on the field. They make their own mistakes and they are not inclined to boo their fellow player when he makes his. They are pulling for one another, encouraging, helpful. They play as a team, win or lose as a team. It is the spectators who boo. So it is in every walk of life: it is the spectators who, as a rule, do the criticizing, not the participants.
Unfortunately, in every congregation, there are the spectators and the participants. The spectators never teach a Bible class, preach, lead singing, or preside at the table; they really don't get that much involved in the worship itself. But more often than not, they are the very ones who are found criticizing the preacher or song leader or Bible class teacher. They are the ones who are so embarrassed and incensed when someone inadvertently commits an "error" in his efforts to lead the group. They come wanting to hear something that is interesting and that will make the time fly by. If they hear it, they "cheer"; if not, they "boo."
Not so with the true participants, those who are really involved in the Lord's work. They are the ones "cheering on" that "rookie" who is preaching his first sermon or leading his first song. When a brother attempts to teach his first Bible class, they are looking for ways to be helpful. They are sympathetic; they rejoice in the success of others; they mourn over the sorrows of others; they feel for the one who has failed, make allowances for him, encourage him to try again, and assure him that he will do better next time. They rejoice especially in the development of the young men and women in the Lord's work. They are just as nervous and excited when the young people make their first attempt at presiding at the table or teaching a class as they would be if it were their own children.
How many preachers have decided to move because of the booing spectators, right at the time when the participants were enjoying their greatest spiritual growth? How many elders have planned the work around the demands of the spectators rather than the needs of the participants?
Spectators need to become participants and find out what it's like out there "on the field." Participants need to keep on doing their best, ignoring the "boos" while looking to their all-seeing and understanding "Manager" for approval. All need to be preparing for judgment, where it will be the "doers of the word," not the critics, who will be saved. "Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous" (I Peter 3:8).
Christians, like ball players, make a sad mistake when they listen too closely to the "boo-birds".
-- Bill Hall