____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ December 6, 1992 ____________________________________________________ Why Churches Dwindle by Johnie Edwards I preached in a number of gospel meetings in 1990 and a lot of churches are not growing but are really on the decrease. Just what causes such to happen? Perhaps here are some reasons. 1. Folks Too Busy To Put First Things First. Until members of the church wake up to the fact that they are going to have to ``seek ye first the kingdom of God'' (Matt. 6:33) the church will not only fail to grow but will dwindle. A lot of members will go on a vacation and not one time attend while they are gone, do not leave their contribution at the home church so the treasurer can pay bills. Some members' attendance is embarrassing. 2. Arguing And Fussing. Show me a church where the members cannot get along with each other, but are always arguing and fussing among themselves, and I will show you a church described by Paul. ``But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another'' (Gal. 5:15). I know some good churches at one time who had disappeared from the scene due to such bickering. Nobody wants to be a part of such! 3. Apathy. Lack of interest and concern has its impact on whether the church grows or declines. Indifference is no doubt the worst enemy of the Lord's church. Most all of us know to do better than we do. You know what James said about this? ``Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin'' (Jas. 4:17). Too many people are just too lazy to get up and get going! No wonder Paul said, ``It is high time to awake out of sleep...'' (Rom. 13:11). If we don't care nobody else will! 4. Selfishness. We live in a selfishness generation. `What's in it for me' attitude has permeated the Lord's people in a lot of places. We are too concerned about self while neglecting others. Paul said, ``Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others'' (Phil. 2:4). When folks fail to make some personal sacrifices the church is not going to grow, but rather dwindle! 5. Jealousy And Envy. When there is feeling of spiteful envy toward others because of their success or abilities the church will suffer. The wise man said, ``A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones'' (Prov. 14:30). Envy killed Christ (Matt. 27:18). Notice the companions of envy, ``strife, railings, evil surmisings'' (1 Tim. 6:4). James said, ``for where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work'' (Jas. 3:16). Instead of being filled with jealousy and envy, we should ``rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep'' (Rom. 12:15). ___________________________________________ GIVING AND RECEIVING by Paul W. Kimmel While I sat, waiting for the return of my companion in a shopping center, I saw a well-dressed man with cards in his hand. In a kindly manner he walked up to a couple, showing them the card. The man and his wife walked on, ignoring him. The man looked my way and as he came over to me, I watched, naturally curious, for I have seen many solicitors, not all of whom are honest. Smiling, he gave me a card. It read, ``Kindly pardon my interruption. I am a deaf-mute. I am selling these items to help my way through. Thank you. Bless you.'' The item was a religious bookmarker. Looking intently into his eyes and feeling sure that he was not an impostor, I gave him a dollar. He looked pleased, and his lips moved in thanks. He then went to the front of our truck and pointed to the out-of-state license plate. I tried to read his lips, ``Are you moving here?'' I answered, ``Yes.'' He said something like, ``May you be happy here,'' and walked away. My wife soon came, and she also had a story to tell. She could not find our truck and was waiting for me in front of the store. But the deaf man had seen her and motioned with his hands to show her where our truck was. He had previously observed us, and felt, for some reason, that we belonged together. As I observed the deaf man soliciting for help, I had to think what it must be like to be turned away, to be refused, to be ignored. We seldom realize what a little help will do; and yet, we do know. To see the young deaf man happy was worth much more than the dollar. Before we left the shopping center I saw this man approach another car, that of a young man. And I saw that man pull out his wallet and give the deaf man some money. The smile of the deaf man was matched by the smile on the face of the young man who gave. One gave and one received, and they both received a blessing. ___________________________________________ WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE? by Bill Crews If a man has money and is not willing to have it examined, people think it is counterfeit. If a man is afraid to take a lie detector test, people think he is guilty of crime. If a man conducts a business and is unwilling to let anyone investigate it, folks think he is running a crooked business. But, many preachers teach doctrines that under no circumstances will they test or allow to be tested by the Bible. Yet thousands (even millions) of people will accept them as upright, honest teachers of the truth, and will risk their salvation upon them. What makes the difference? The Bible instructs us to try the teacher. (1 Jn. 4:1). ``The truth never fears investigation!'' I do not know who wrote the above words, but I heartily endorse the sentiments expressed by them; and this ``shoe'' must be worn by me and my brethren just as surely as we plead with denominational preachers and members to wear it. You can be sure that anyone who does not want to, or who is unwilling to, have what he believes and practices in religion subjected to investigation does not have the truth. Something is definitely wrong when a man refuses to discuss or to hear a discussion of his own faith and practice. In times past elders of congregations and faithful preachers of the gospel were delighted when either outsiders or their own members asked for Bible authority for anything taught or practiced in a local congregation; but, since so many churches of Christ today are now engaged in all sorts of practices which cannot be supported by the scriptures, more and more elders and preachers live in dread of such questions. What about you? Are you willing to hear both sides of opposing religious views? Do you search for all the information (Bible information, of course) on all religious questions? The truth does not produce the fruit of anonymous phone calls and letters; refusals to read a tract, paper, or book that does not agree with what one already believes. The truth will not produce an unwillingness to re-examine one's faith and practice, or a rejection of invitations to hear discussions of religious differences. ___________________________________________ Love Love saw the guilt of sin, and sought a basis of pardon. Love saw the alienation of sin, and sought a ground of reconciliation. Love saw the defilement of sin, and sought a way of cleansing. Love saw the depravity of sin, and sought a means of restoration. Love saw the enslavement of sin, and sought an instrument of emancipation. Love saw the malady of sin, and sought a balm of healing. Love saw the condemnation of sin, and sought a method of justification. Love saw the death of sin, and sought a way of life. Love sought, and love found. -- Selected (actual title not known) ___________________________________________ If we work on MARBLE, it will perish. If we work on BRASS, time will efface it. If we rear TEMPLES, they will crumble into dust. But if we work on IMMORTAL MINDS; as we imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and love of our fellow men, we engrave on those tablets something that will brighten all ETERNITY. -- Daniel Webster ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________