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Is Your Church a Church or Social Club Unfortunately today within our society, too many churches are not churches at all, but social clubs. How and why has this happened? Why do we profess to be Christians yet fail to follow God’s simple instructions? In writing this article I must admit that I am a sinner, as big if not bigger than you all; yet, I attempt everyday to be better. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don’t. Yet, I keep trying. I do not attend church to be a leader, or to have people follow my lead; however, this is exactly what happens. In doing so I meet resistance, by people that have attended the church for long periods of time. They come to church every Sunday and believe they areChristians; yet, will not attempt to reach out to the poor, the afflicted, or to spread the Gospel. This is the very thing that Jesus has instructed us to do. Thus, they have made the church not a church but a social club. The church was designed as a place to worship and reach out and do good deeds. From the time we are old enough to think for ourselves until the day we die, God has instructed us to go out, reach people, grow the church, put our hands out to the poor both in spirit and in worldly goods. If we do not, then how do we think of ourselves as Christians? For all we do is have a church to attend and ask God to help us, when we have not helped Him and have refused to do so. So I ask, how can we ask God to help the church grow when we refuse to do what He asked? If the people of the church simply want a place to go, to meet people, to listen to aspiring messages, and sing songs, then start a social club. If the people want to spend their money on things such as clean railing, clean altars, and pretty scenery, then why call it a church at all, for it is not a church as God has intended a church to be. For a church to grow it must have members that wish it to be a church. For it is the responsibility of each church member to go out, reach out to the poor and afflicted, and perform the task that the church was designed to do. Sitting in church each week without performing tasks that the church is designed to do, makes it nothing more than a place to go on Sundays. Asking God to help the church to grow without putting any effort in making it so will fall on deaf ears. Asking God to help us and not helping ourselves with also fall on deaf ears. So why do I make sure that I put so many hours each week in helping my church grow? I do it because that is what God has commanded me to do and he has commanded you to do, all of our lives until the day we die. Only then can we hope to ask God to forgive us of our sins and take us into heaven. Every week we must do God’s work. It does not matter how old we are, how young we are, how sick we are, or how healthy we are. We can do something. What is it you can do to help the church grow? Only you can answer that. How much time are you willing to put forth in doing what God has commanded you to do? For me, I know God has commanded me to reach out to the poor and afflicted, for the Bible tells me so. I want to be a Christian, so I have to do what God has asked. The Bible has also told me not to worry about myself, for God knows what we need without us asking Him. However, He has asked me to spread the word and do good deeds. Because I believe in God, I also believe that He would not have told me to do this unless He meant it. Therefore, I will put in my efforts to do God’s work. If anyone believes that I simply like every week to work several hours without pay or rewards, then they must come from another planet. I don’t enjoy the endless work, the long hours, and do not enjoy doing it and not make a cent. For as I do it, I will run into resistance from those that wish to sit back and see someone else do it. I do it not because I enjoy the long hours; I do it because God has commanded me to do it as He has commanded you to do it. An atheist believes in nothing; yet, they will be more than happy to attend a social club so they can visit and make friends. A Christian does not go to a social club, but a church where God is present and the work of God is in progress. Thus if your church is not growing, then ask yourself a question. Is your church a church or a social club? Joe W. Hillyer Author: Texas Fact & Fable at www.publishamerica.com e-mail: joeduckcolonel@yahoo.com U.S. Army 1966-1983 Prescott Valley United Methodist Church
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