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 The
flamboyant evangelist, Dr. Sam Jones, was well known in some
circles for his "Quittin' Meetings." During his
revivals he gave people a special opportunity to confess their
sins and repent. many quit swearing, quit gossiping, quit
drinking, quit smoking, etc. He asked one woman what she planned
to quit, and she replied, "I ain't been doing nothing, and
I am going to quit doing that!"
Assuming
she was true to her word, that was a worthy change. Think what
great works most churches could accomplish if about two-thirds
of the members would "quit doing nothing."
Yes,
I know. The illustration led to an exaggeration. Two-thirds of
the members are not "doing nothing." Even those who
sleep through the worship are absorbing sound waves, and that
makes it easier on the speaker. I learned, long ago, not to
expect every called-out person to be all that the Lord says they
should be; but I hope and pray I will never give up trying to
bring about this condition. When reality becomes cynicism we are
done. Aren't you glad the Lord did not give up on you? The Lord
was not blinded to the reality of a sinful world when he
died
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for those sins. He must
have known that many for whom He died would 'do nothing"
about it.
Some
brethren "do nothing" because they have been
conditioned to think the church does it all — an erroneous
institutional concept of church. Some equate the Lord's work
with public service, and think they have no talent for that.
Some excuse themselves with the fear they may do something
wrong. And some "tried once, but no one paid any attention
to me." In all these, we are too much concerned with what
people think of us, instead of acting in faith and with a view
to pleasing the Lord.
Somehow
we must reawaken the concept of individual and direct
relationship of each saint to Christ. The "priesthood of
believers" must be re-established in our thinking. I must
know that regardless of what others do, or do not do; regardless
of popularity or opposition, of affluence or famine; I must
serve my Master in all good conscience (Rom. 14:4-12).
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