The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
August 15, 2004
In
This Issue:
BIG
may not be Better
by
Hiram Hutto
How
to be Happy with the Church
by
Steve Klein
BIG may not be BETTER
Have you ever noticed how many people have "The Tower of Babel Complex?" Remember the tower of Babel? These people said, "Let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name" (Gen. 11:4). Evidently they thought, "the bigger the better" or, the way to be really somebody is to do big things in big ways. Many people are of that same disposition. They are not anybody, in their estimation, unless they can "see their name up in lights," unless they have "the most" of whatever it is. Thus, the almost insatiable desire to "get to the top"--wherever that is.
In direct opposition to this, have you ever noticed how, according to the teach-ing of Jesus, greatness is not necessarily in doing the "big" things, but rather in the small things; and with Him and His people, the way up is the way down. This is just one of the many ways in which the kingdom of Christ is "not of this world," that is, its standard of greatness is not the same as the wor1d's standard. Let's notice some of these.
1. Recognition: How many people in Germany or Russia, or France, or England have ever heard of you? Probably none, if you are like most of us. Is this of any consequence? No, for God assures us that if we are of those who belong to God, "ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matt. 10:31) and although "two sparrows are sold for a farthing," not "one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father." If God is concerned about the little sparrows, surely he is concerned about his people. The people in France, Germany, or wherever may not have ever heard of us, but God has.
2. Prominence. There are not many who will read this bulletin whose deeds will be acclaimed by men. You won't get your name in the newspaper for some worthwhile activity. Chances are you will not be receiving any medals. Yet remember, Jesus said, "whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward" (Matt. 10:42). The world may never recognize you as a "hero", but God does even when you do a thing that little. Why then shou1d we be concerned so much about what the world thinks of us?
3. Big Men. No doubt you have observed how the world almost goes wi1d over the movie star or the TV personality. The autograph-seekers almost drive them mad. And I even heard of a middle-aged woman who was a member of the church trekking all the way to Memphis when Elvis died. (I wonder if the same would be willing to go across town to visit a neighboring congregation engaged in a gospel meeting?). Yet God is not impressed with all that, nor does He want us to be. Listen: "Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate" Rom. 12: 16. Perhaps it is especially appropriate that the next words are "Be not wise in your own conceits". But does this not at the same time tell us the very ones whom we should honor? What if Elvis, or whoever, "plays to audiences of thousands?" God takes no favorable recognition of such. He is concerned about people who do His will, and those who do are "precious in his sight", no matter how insignificant they may seem to be.
by Hiram Hutto
Via Eastside Enlightener
March 5, 1978
How to be Happy with the Church
Occasionally we've seen folks become unhappy with the local church of which they are a part. Sometimes the problem is doctrinal, but more often than not it has to do with personal preferences concerning what is being done or not done, or with the way it's being done. The disgruntled person may be heard to say something like, "I'm not satisfied here." Others with similar feelings may suffer their unhappiness in silence. Some may become complainers (which is sinful, Philippians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 10:10). Some may leave, choosing to change their circumstances rather than try to work to make things better where they are.
These common ways of dealing with unhappiness in the church are not real solutions to the problem. The better way of dealing with something that is making us unhappy is either to try to change it or to change our attitude towards it.
Here are some specific Scriptural instructions for maintaining happiness with the local church:
(1) Communicate with church leaders. In the early church, there was a problem with the Grecian widows being neglected. Some in the church were very unhappy about this. It is helpful to observe that the problem was solved when it came to the attention of the apostles. Similarly, the church problem mentioned in Acts 15 (i.e. some requiring circumcision) was solved when it was brought to the attention of the apostles and elders. Most elderships are anxious to solve problems, but they are not mind readers. Members are to "know" and "esteem" the elders for their works' sake (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13). If we reflect upon the work of elders and esteem them for it, we will be anxious to communicate perceived problems to them.
(2) Commit to the work. It is hard to be unhappy with a project that we ourselves are working on enthusiastically. Every member of the body has work to do to build up the body, and the body will never be what it should be until all the members are doing their share. It is "the effective working by which every part does its share" that "causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:12).
(3) Pray for the church and its leaders. Prayer is powerful. If we believe in prayer and we truly want the church to improve, we will be praying for it. And, when we pray for the successful work of elders, teachers and preachers, we will be motivated to do all that we can to make their work a success.
(4) Exhort and praise. When good things happen, they need to be reinforced with praise and exhortation (Romans 15:1-2; Acts 14:22). It's hard to be unhappy when we focused on the good that's being done.
(5) Examine yourself. If we are honest with ourselves, we'll have to admit that our unhappiness is often due to flaws in ourselves rather than the flaws of others. Sometimes a persons' unhappiness with the church is the result of the fact that he has not been grounded in sound doctrine, so he is not happy with the teaching of it. Sometimes it is due to the unfair and unrighteous judging of others -- the kind that Jesus compared in Matthew 7:1-5 to a man trying get a speck out of a brother's eye when he has a beam in his own eye. Sometimes unhappiness with the church is the result of a person not getting his way. Paul wrote, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4)
--Steve Klein