Which Church? - Received from J****, September, 2005
Thank you for the answer to my question,
it helped out a lot. I've got another one if you don't mind. It
was one that you mentioned in the e-mail. It was (However, if
you consistently feel that your church is not where your offering
belongs, then why are you staying at that church? Different topic...)
So you mean that if I don't feel comfortable in giving there why
am I still attending and should go and find somewhere else to
attend that would better me as a person and give my different
gifts accordingly? Am I on the right track?
Thank you for your help, J****
Reply:
I guess I am not very subtle, am I ???... <grin>
If you are staying at a church where you are not happy with them in various areas, but the Lord is using you there in some way - then probably you should stay there. God calls us to be salt and light, and some times we need to be salt and light in places where we would rather not be.
Or maybe - and I am aware of churches where this is the case - a particular church might be OK, but because of their denominational affiliation, the money you give to that church is going to an area that you don't think it ought to go, so you want give your money elsewhere. I understand that, and it seems a reasonable option.
If I remember correctly (always questionable...) you are staying at your current church because you want to be a good influence on your sister. That is a good reason - if what you are doing is having the desired effect. Is it? Let me throw out a couple "what if's" and it won't be judgemental, since I don't know anything about the church.
Let's say that the church
is not presenting the gospel, but unless you go with her, your
sister won't go to church at all.
-Why bother? What good is that? You are wasting your time and
hers. Speak up, don't be shy, suggest that both of you start going
to a church that teaches the Bible and preaches the gospel, and
let the chips fall where they may. Perhaps you will both be better
off for it. You certainly won't be any worse off - a church that
fails to present the gospel is a waste of time, or worse, because
it presents the appearance of Christianity without the Source
of Christianity.
Let's say that the church is presenting the gospel, but it is also presenting false doctrine as well. - Are you acting as a counter balance? Are you counter acting lies with the truth? Are you speaking up to your sister? Is your truth being received? And if so, why is there not a desire on your sister's part to find a church that doesn't tell false doctrine? Either way, you need to be very outspoken about the gospel truth, whether it annoys or not. Remember, Jesus Christ said He would be a stumbling stone, and if the gospel hurts an unbeliever's toes - then good. Sometimes people just might need to be stubbed up in order to be saved.
Let's say that the church is presenting sound doctrine, but is spiritually dead. Pray for revival, and get the people at Blountville Chapel to pray with you. Believers who are asleep need to be woken up, and believers from different churches need to lift each other up before God, not compete for who gets the biggest congregation or the best whatever. If it really is a good church that has simply fallen dormant, then God can stir them up, and we all need to help.
Maybe none of these "what if's" are anywhere close. Maybe you are just in your particular comfort zone, we all tend to do that. You know you would be welcome at Blountville Chapel, but more than that, I want you where God wants you, and that is where you need to be.
Years ago, I heard a Pentecostal preacher from New Zealand (He had a great accent) ask what is probably the Ultimate Question for Christians, he said that when we stand before Jesus, at the judgement seat of Christ, He will only ask us two questions.
1. Why did you do what you
did?
2. Who did you do it for? Yourself? Or Me?
If you get those two questions right, everything else will sort itself out OK.
Blessings,
richard
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