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 A
man with a problem is the Christian with conviction and
conscience who "comes to himself" as the member of a
church caught up in unscriptural practices. He sees now that he
has become an expert in rationalism and dodging issues. For
instance, when the controversy arose over church support of
human institutions, he really didn't make any serious and
objective study of the question. What others told him had been
good enough. Anyway, who wants to be called an "anti"?
So, he went along.
Later,
he became involved in the popular bus-ministry program. From the
start, he had felt that if transportation was a problem,
then busses were a waste of the Lord's money because members
could provide that with their own cars. But, since so many were
for it, he went along. However, he had second thoughts when he
saw the children being "bribed" with refreshments and
prizes to ride the busses. Later, he saw how
"convenient" it was to use the busses for transporting
members, especially the youth, to social activities. "Is
this the work of the church?” he wondered, but never asked.
Then
came the "Fellowship-Annex". While he knew of other
members who were not for it, some of the more outspoken brethren
really pushed for it. No one objected much, so why should he?
Initially, its use was mostly limited to potlucks and
"fellowship" meals. However, since some could not see
the difference between these and other social activities
(neither could he), it was soon being used for quilting parties,
youth parties, bridal and baby showers, wedding receptions and
the like. Now his conscience gives him no rest. His
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contributions have helped to build and maintain something
that is no part of the work of the church. The Lord's money is
being used to provide for recreation and social activities and
HE KNOWS THERE IS NO BIBLE AUTHORITY FOR SUCH!
A
friend tells him not to worry because it is only the elders who
are responsible if things are wrong in the church. He knows
better. He knows elders cannot make laws and only function
within God's law. All shall give account personally (2 Cor.
5:10) because all have an obligation to truth. What if the
elders decided to omit the Lord's Supper? Would we be bound to
follow them or God? Every elder and every member is a partaker
(has a share in what the local church dues. That's what
scriptural fellowship means. How, then, can the individual as a
joint-partaker be right when the collective (church) activity is
wrong'. For the man who wants to be SURE of being right with
God, that is a problem that cannot be ignored!
The
honest man sees he is wrong. What does he do? For sure, he
ceases to he honest or he ceases to be wrong! The pressures are
great. His friends, or even his own family may not appreciate
his convictions. They may even resent them. Stay and teach them?
Not likely, as many have found. Staying with the
"synagogue" may mean leaving the Lord (Jn. 12:43). We
pray for the man with this problem; that he will have the
courage to resist compromise and stand for his convictions. If
not, he has a worse
problem! Dan Shipley
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