Any time believers in our congregation display weakness, we should try to strengthen them in the faith and not reject them. We should keep trying to help them as long as they continue to try. However, when they quit, it is not possible to prop them up. As harsh as it may seem, we cannot expend that which has been given to us in service of those who do not have the will to receive it.
Nowhere do we see the Lord trying to compel or beg people to follow Him if they did not have it in themselves to do it. Such will only hold back the rest from becoming and doing what they are called to do or be.
However, we must not confuse the lack of commitment to a doctrine or project as a lack of commitment to the Lord. We should not confuse their lack of commitment to our congregation with a lack of commitment to the Lord. They may be called to another congregation, even another movement or expression of the body of Christ. If we think we have the best, or the only one worthy of commitment, we are deluded and conceited, and it is good that they leave us. If they have been called, their devotion will come alive if they are allowed to find their right place in Him.
However, even when we have found our place in His body, this will be tested. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, the Lord tests every work with fire (I Corinthians 3:12-15). Francis Frangipane said, “One way the Lord builds His church is by walking through it throwing matches. Whatever is left after the fire He will build upon.” When we try to put out the fires God has started to test His work, we are getting in the way of His work.
Many have not been led to Christ but to a doctrine. Others have been led to the church, or to a movement. All of these are good things that the Lord may be doing, but they must not be allowed to eclipse our devotion to Him. Commitment to anything but Him and His will ultimately fails the test. As Peter Lord has said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Jesus is the Main Thing.
We have been called to follow the Lord, and we must keep Him as our primary devotion lest we make a good thing, even something good from God, into an idol we serve in place of God. Did those who followed Him when He walked the earth ever see Him do or say anything the same way twice? When we follow the Creator, we are going to continually witness creativity. This is why those who follow Him are the most creative people on earth. Those who follow religion, methods, and laws are some of the most bound, boring people on earth. Following Christ is the least boring thing we can ever do because He is so creative.
Didn’t the Lord tell Israel several times that He was weary of their sacrifices? Is He weary of our worship? Can our worship possibly be coming from our hearts when we sing the same songs the same way over and over? We may change the lineup a bit, but if we are bored with the typical service, how can we say our worship is for God—the most creative Being there has been or will ever be?
We may think all is well because the blessing of the Lord is present at our church, but again, the Lord will bless many things He will not inhabit. The blessings of the Lord are of incalculable value, and we should always honor and appreciate them, but that does not mean that we should not seek more than just blessings. He is greater than the blessings.
Everywhere Jesus went the people were stirred. Were any left the same after encountering Him? They may not have liked Him. They may have been enraged and persecuted Him, but they did not ignore Him.
One thing we can be sure of is that God is not boring. If our church life is boring, it’s because we got off track somewhere and went a different way than He did. Every encounter with God can be considered among the most exciting events in history. That is what our church life will be like if we are truly meeting with the Lord in His house.
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