Your Church and Its Problems
Why do you find such differences of opinion and such strong feelings on the part of some Christians about some matters of faith and church procedures?
There are several reasons. The Christian faith is so great in its implications that it is difficult for man to see it all. It is something like a diamond with many facets and we see only a part of the diamond at one time. Another reason is that there are times when we magnify some particular point beyond its rightful significance. There are things about the Christian faith which are essential, there are others which are important in varying degrees but which have no bearing on one's personal salvation. There may be times when men magnify a minor point and make it a major one. Then too the frailty and perversities of human nature may cause us to interpret certain truths from a purely human viewpoint, thereby losing their spiritual significance. While your question is interesting, let me suggest that you will be wise to look, not at the differences in the church but at the things on which historic Christianity has always agreed; the deity of our Lord, His death for our sins, His resurrection and His coming again among them. If we agree on the things about which the Bible is very clear, we can agree to disagree on many minor points. Let me further suggest that an argumentative spirit rarely honors the Lord.
Why do you always say that a new Christian should immediately unite with a church?
Why should a newborn baby have a home? It is as simple as that. A child can be born outside the home, and a person can become a Christian outside the church, but nurture and care is essential to the development of both. These can best be provided in the home in case of the child, and in the church in the case of a Christian.
Every church is potentially a resurrection center. Into it come people who have been primarily concerned with their selfish affairs. In the church they broaden and come to feel the needs of other people. One of the signs of Christian life is the desire to share.
It is in the church that you are transformed from a self-centered individual into a self-sacrificing member of society.
Only the church provides the nurture for spiritual growth. Here we are taught to grow in the Word, and here we have the help of other Christians when we are tempted to stumble. The church is a storehouse of spiritual food whereby the inner man is fed, nourished, and developed into maturity. If it fails, it is not fulfilling its purpose as a church.
Not having been a Christian for long, I wonder if you can tell me how to choose a church? I don't want to get into one that does not preach the Gospel faithfully.
As an evangelist who works with all denominations, it is not my duty to tell people which church to join. However, there are certain desirable characteristics which may be found in churches of all denominations.
First, as you say, I would select a church which preaches the Gospel faithfully. However, it is not enough to be sound theologically. I would therefore choose a church which endeavored to practice what it preached, and to translate its beliefs into everyday life. I would choose a church where there was a degree of tolerance toward other Christians, for too often our Christian testimony is weakened by a raspy, critical spirit toward other Christians not of our group. I would choose a church that opened its arms to everyone with a spiritual need, regardless of their social standing, and that had a concern for the social sins of the community. I would choose a church which has a missionary vision and spirit, one which was willing to co-operate in every worthwhile effort to bring Christ to the world. And last, I would choose a church that was worthy of my tithes and offerings, and where I could find opportunity to give unstintingly of my talents and capabilities for the glory of God. And when I found that church, I would just hope that they would be lenient enough to accept me into their fellowship.
Sometime ago I made a pledge to the church for missions. I made it large, mainly to impress people, and now I can't pay it. What are the legal problems involved? Can I be made to pay or what should be my course of action?
You remind me of the Pharisees that Jesus so roundly condemned in His times. They always wanted to be seen of men in the things they did. If they prayed, it was publicly, and if they gave alms, they wanted a trumpet to be blown to call attention to their munificence (Matthew 6:1-5). To such people Jesus said: "They have their reward." You had your reward at the time you made the generous pledge.
Legally, you can be sued, but I doubt if any church would do so. I am quite confident that no church group, however spiritually dead, would attempt to force collection of such a promise. But you still must answer to God. Actually your promise was supposedly made to Him. What do you intend to do about it? I see only one course of action now. Either you must make a public statement of your false intentions when you made the pledge or beg for time to honor it. If you did this, you would have a clear conscience toward men, if not toward God. As for the sinful aspect of it, you must repentantly turn to God, asking forgiveness in Jesus' name, and He who forgives every sin will also forgive you.
My friends claim I am not a Christian because I do not attend church. Can one be just as religious and good if he is not a member of a church?
I suppose it could be said that going to church will not make one a Christian. But of this we are even more sure: refusing to fellowship with believers will not make you one either.
I suppose you could live up to the principles of the Masonic Lodge without joining it. You could subscribe to the principles of the Rotary Club without being a Rotarian. But it seems to me that if you sincerely wanted to be a good Rotarian, or good Christian, you would do well to fellowship with those who have kindred goals and motives.
The church is the family of believers. Christ died, not only for the individual, but for the church. The Bible says: "He loved the church, and gave Himself for it." If Christ loved the church enough to die for it, we should love it enough to associate ourselves with it.
By joining a good spiritual church, we are letting the world know where our loyalties are. Even you admit that "your friends say you are not a Christian because you do not belong to church." If we really believe in Christ, the least we can do is to identify ourselves with others who believe. In this way your faith is strengthened, and your witness is buttressed.
Our church has such a demanding program, with many extra meetings; in fact there is something going on every night during the week. I realize this is important, but to attend all these services I would have to neglect my family. Can you help me with this problem?
Thank God that you are a member of a church that is doing something. However, I think your minister would be the first to agree that you should not neglect your family. A mother's chief responsibility is to her home and family, but that is not to say that she has no duty to her church.
The goal of a busy mother should be for balance. The Bible says there is a "time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time for love, and a time for peace." If you plan your week, you will find ample time for your family, and also time for your church work. They make a happy and satisfying combination.
However, don't make too great a distinction between your home and the church, for their ultimate purpose is the same: the building of character in the lives of your children. Let your home be your congregation, and you its shepherd. Whether at church or at home you are making impacts that are eternal.
Our church is so well organized that there seems to be no place for the freshness of spontaneity, or individual expression. Sometimes I feel that I can't see Christ for the trimmings. Am I wrong in feeling this way?
No, I don't feel that you are wrong. I think perhaps you have a point here. I'm sure your pastor would welcome any constructive suggestions you may have along this line.
Most ministers regret that their membership does not participate more actively in the life of the church, and I am sure your minister would be glad for any sanctified "spontaneity" you may bring to the life of the church.
I hope the day will never come when the church abandons the "class meeting" and the prayer service. In these services everyone who so desires should have an opportunity for expression. The old-fashioned "testimony" meeting should be revived, for through this medium we can share our faith, and our triumphs, as well as our needs and mistakes with others.
But this is important: though opportunities for expression may be limited within the church walls, there is plenty of opportunity to witness to your neighbors and friends to the saving power of Christ. In fact, it is much more effective to witness to those who need Christ, rather than to those who already know Him. More power to you! Be spontaneous and expressive in your Christian witness.
Our church is planning a building program that I think is beyond our financial ability. My friends are enthusiastic. Should I stand in opposition and still work in the church or should I leave as a matter of conscience?
As Christians we do not always find ourselves in total agreement in matters of policy. As long as there is no denial of the essentials of our faith, and as long as your friends do not cease to be your friends simply because you disagree, I would continue to work with them. There is no moral deviation here, but a matter of business judgment. We need to be able to disagree in love and still work together to bring men to Jesus Christ. State your objections and then when and if you are outvoted, accept it graciously and continue to work with them as friends and as brothers and sisters in Christ. Time may indicate that you were wrong and not they. If so, you still have your friends and your church.
I was raised in a family with very strong church ties. Now I am married and living in a community where there are no congenial churches. Do you think that my husband and I should try to start a new church?
Most of the major denominations have basically the same Christian doctrines. It is true that some are much closer to their original beliefs than others and for that reason congregations and ministers differ greatly. I would suggest that you make a study of the basic beliefs of the churches in your community and then join the one you feel most closely resembles your ideal. Remember that there is no perfect church and no perfect congregation. It can well be that God is opening up for you a new opportunity to serve Him through a church which needs your witness and help. Remember, also, that we sometimes confuse our prejudices with our beliefs. In any case you should join a church where you find spiritual help and strength each week and where you can join in the program of the church in reaching out to the unchurched in your community. It
is impossible for me to answer your question in more than broad generalities because there are many details I know nothing of and also because this is a personal problem and God alone can lead you to a final decision which is right. You and your husband make this a matter of prayer and be sure that you follow God's leading in the matter. If you do that you will make no mistake.
When my husband and I were married, we both were Christians and went to church each Sunday. We now live in a suburb where our neighbors spend the weekends in sports and trips and we have been doing the same thing. We are miserable.
You should thank God that you are miserable. He is speaking to you through your conscience. Down deep in your heart, you know you have exchanged solid things which last for tinsel and temporary pleasure. Trips and sports have their rightful place in our lives, but when they take the place of church attendance and spiritual things in general, they are a snare and bring only disillusionment and sorrow. I know so many people who are in your predicament. I know others who were living as you are but who came to realize that life is more than recreation and a good time and who have started putting first things first in their lives. Today they are radiant with the joy Christ brings to hearts surrendered to Him. I have the idea that a lot of the couples around you are just as miserable as you are. They may not know the cause, but God is giving you an opportunity not only to correct the mistake you have made but also to lead them to see that life is far more than any of them now know. If you put Christ first in your personal lives, in your home, with your children and in the center of your church life, you will find that joy will supplant unhappiness and that the meaning of this life, and the one to come, becomes clear and bright. It will take moral courage to make the break and take the right step, but you will never regret it.
Do you think that if I begin to tithe it would help me solve my financial problem? I notice many preachers advocate tithing.
Tithing is certainly taught in the Old Testament and Jesus fully approved it as a practice. When the Pharisees boasted of it, He said: "This ought ye to have done and not left the other undone." Unfortunately, tithing has been frequently advocated as a mere device for money raising, and that is not its primary purpose. It is an act of worship and an expression of our faith in God. It is the most practical means of giving evidence to our claim that all we have is the Lord's.
But tithing will not solve your financial problem. If I understand your question, you are really trying to bribe God rather than worship Him. You cannot purchase the favor of God with money, because He is not in need of the little you have. By your giving, God gives you the opportunity of sharing in the work of spreading the Gospel and being a co-worker with Him.
We are members of a new and struggling church. Our young pastor is making demands for financial support. Do you think it is wrong for him to make such demands, and is there any reason why he can't do other work?
I do not know your young minister, but I would say that if he is a deeply spiritual man, with a desire to give more time to his calling, you have a duty to do your best for him financially. The Bible teaches: "The laborer is worthy of his hire." The Bible teaches, in Galatians 6:6: "Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things."
One of the most underpaid groups of men in the world are ministers. Almost every survey indicates that the average minister's pay is far below what it should be.
On the other hand, I have never felt that any minister should make a demand. Perhaps you have used the wrong word in describing a legitimate suggestion or proposition from his point of view.
To answer your question more specifically, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with a minister working. Paul did in his time, and many others have done so in the long history of the church. That does not mean that it is the best way to do it. Your pastor cannot give the time nor the effort to his ministry if he must earn a living by other means. You would probably be the first to criticize if he failed to visit the sick or preach a good sermon on Sunday. I suggest the people give a little extra.
We hear so much said about churches giving dinners and such for the purpose of making money for the church. Do you think it is right for churches to have dinners?
I think the church fellowship dinners are a fine thing. Jesus ate with His disciples in the Upper Room, and I believe there is something edifying about God's people eating and fellowshiping together.
In regard to the church competing with the restaurants for the purpose of raising money, that is another question. Personally, I believe that if Christians paid their tithe, and gave of their substance as liberally as they ought, there would be no need of church suppers for profit. I have noticed that tithing churches have more time to spend winning the lost in their community than religious groups which must resort to secular means of raising their finances. There is not only a great spiritual blessing in tithing, but it releases valuable time for Christians to do more important things for Christ. A classic appraisal of this problem came from Jesus' words to Martha when she complained that Mary was shirking her culinary duties. He said: "Mary hath chosen the better part." It is not that "serving tables" is so wrong, it is simply that Christians can employ their time a lot more gainfully.
Our church is always asking for money for missions and other causes. We get the impression that they are more interested in money than in the needs of our own community. Should the church overstress money?
It might interest you to know that mission giving, per capita, amounts to only one cent for the church people of America. As Christians, I hardly think we are overdoing the matter of foreign missions. We need a hundred thousand missionaries in the spiritual and technical fields. Dr. Frank Laubauch, an authority in this field, says that "We have but one short year to fight Communism." He says that if we don't awaken to our responsibility in helping starving, backward people to help themselves that we shall be six hundred million facing two billions of the enemy and we cannot possibly survive.
Of course, missionary work is more than economical in its impact. Millions who have never heard the name of Jesus deserve to own the joy and peace that comes in knowing Him and His power to forgive sins.
If your church is overemphasizing finances, it is probably because its constituents have failed to give God His share. I have never heard a person who is giving God what belongs to Him complain about the demands for money. It is usually the fellow who is in debt to God who gripes when the preacher mentions money.
We have recently moved into a new community where there is no church of our denomination. There is a church here with which we can agree with few reservations. Should we drive a great distance to a church of our own denomination, or could we serve where we are? They have asked me to teach a Sunday school class.
I believe in denominational loyalty, but I also believe that Christians should witness where they live. Unless we show an interest and love for those in our community, people might get the idea that you are religious snobs — which of course you are not.
You say that you agree with the doctrine of the local church with few reservations. I have found that nonessentials separate people more often than essentials. In reading the history of denominations, it is interesting to note that the great divisions have always resulted from somewhat minor differences. More important is to maintain a Christian attitude in spite of the differences between us. Some people call that "compromise" — others see it as Christian charity.
I have made up my mind to fellowship with all those who love Jesus Christ with all their heart, and are seeking to win men to Him. At the moment I am being criticized by a few people for doing this, but I would rather lose a few friends than the blessing and favor of my Lord. If you feel that you can be a blessing to these people who don't see quite eye to eye with you on every point, by all means serve where you will be the greatest blessing.
