Congregationalism

Congregationalism is the idea of "church activities" and has been around for years. We see more and more emphasis placed on "congregational programs" and "congregational goals" all with the point of meeting the challenges facing the church. Much of these ideas come from enlarged church budgets and yet many of the congregational projects undertaken do not reflect the interest of the individual members. Many are thrust into various projects, and asked to contribute money for them, yet they had no voice in the "project" to start with. Sadly, plain New Testament teaching about the work of individual Christians is being ignored as we strive to meet our "church goals."

This may shock many but the New Testament does not place the work of the Lord on a congregational basis. Yes, there were times when a congregation acted in an emergency or could support a widow when there was no one else to care for her (I Timothy 5:3-16) but by in large the emphasis is placed on the individual. It is interesting to note that in Paul's discussion about churches supporting widows mentioned above that there is much individual responsibility to meet before a church could even consider her. If she is younger, SHE needs to care for herself, or seek help from the MEMBERS of her family. Only when she has obtained a certain age and NO ONE else should the church step in. GO ahead-- read the text again. It certainly does not sound like a "church program" needed to be set up. Nor does it sound like a goal of supporting "50' widows or orphan homes per year was in order.

Another clear example is found in Acts 11:29-30 as it records the first "program" for aid of the Judean brethren caught in a famine. "Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren living in Judea, and did so and sent it to the elders by the hands of barnabas and Saul." There was no "church drive" to enlarge the congregational budget so they could meet their quota. Individuals determined what they could do to help and then they did what they determined. Needless to say one could search long and hard and not find a finance committee or church budget outlined in this text. Simply put, a need was presented to them and the individual saints at Antioch responded to meet the need.

Certainly our interest in church growth and development has caused us to put too much emphasis on "challenge budgets" and financial drives. No person is going to go to heaven because the church budget was met or the church excelled in benevolence. We don't ride the coattails of the church to heaven. We go because we EACH did the Lord's work.

Lights in the World

The apostle Paul told the Philippians, "that you may be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15.) Just as in the first century, the world today is crooked and twisted. Immorality, humanism, false religion, broken homes, drug abuse, lying, homosexuality, and so many other sins run rampant now just as they did back then. Of course we have many today that see no sin. Every deviant behavior is explained away as some "psychological defect" or sickness. The motto of many is to "please number one." It is a shame that so many seek to soothe their conscience in such ways but God still sees the violation of His will as sin and condemns such.

Christians do not live separate from this "crooked and twisted" generation. Jesus prayed, "The world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You would keep them from evil" (John 17:14-15.) In other words, the Lord's disciples lived in the world and the world hated them. It was not possible for them to be removed from the world to live separate from evil people but the Lord prayed that they might not be taken up with the evil around them. So it is with Christians today.

If God's people wanted to be away from sin, they would have to leave the world (I Corinthians 5:10) but that is neither possible nor God's will. As His people we are to live right here in this crooked and twisted generation to shine as lights among it. Our love for the Lord keeps us learning from His word and we do not listen to the "council of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, not sit in the seat of the scornful" (Psalms 1:1.) We meditate on God's word night and day (Psalms 1:2.) John admonishes us to "Love not the world" (I John 2:15.) Clearly the focus of the Christian is not on worldly things but spiritual and such being true, does not practice the sin he sees around him.

As Christians, we are "lights" in the world. It is not our job to be the "police of the world" to force conformity to the gospel of Christ. Our job is to bear fruit. We grow in the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and as the world sees our love, joy, peace, longsuffering, patience, etc grow, they see something better than themselves. A Christian is a blessing waiting to happen and as we come in contact with others, we are showing them a better way of living. Then the time is right to teach them about Jesus Christ and salvation so they too can know and experience this more noble way. We have to be right in the midst of the turmoil of the world while living above it but this should make us a beacon to those around us.