Fatal Foes of the Father’s Family

March 25, 2007

            Ten years ago my family and I took a summer road trip.  One of the most exciting stops on our trip was a tour of a historic mansion.  This great home was bequeathed to Congress in 1862. Being short on funds due to the Civil War, the house was abandoned in 1879.  By then this stately manor lay in ruin on a hill.  Cattle roamed the basement.  Grain was stored in the drawing room.  The large doors hung off their hinges.   You have seen this house.  You’ve carried a picture around in your pocket from time to time.  Check your pockets or your purses and you might find a picture of it.  It is on the flip side of the nickel.  We are talking about Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.

            Today, something far greater than the Monticello lies in ruins in some communities.  Jesus Christ’s Church can be found desolate, abandoned, etc. Many congregations which were once thriving and strong now lay in ruin.  We are not speaking of the buildings but the congregation of God’s people.  How did this happen?  Who is responsible?  Perhaps, it was due to the failure of the saints and the sins they harbored from within.  Let us consider some of the sins or sinners which are destructive to the Lord’s Church.

            The proud are often a great destructive source in local churches.   The early church was plagued with pride.  Ananias and Sapphira  wanted to be recognized by the apostles just like Barnabas.  Instead of selling and giving all as promised, they desired to bolster their egos at bargain prices.  They lied to the Holy Spirit.  They died for their lie (Acts 5:1-11). The love of money caused some to honor the wealthy in the congregation above the poor (Js. 2:1—9).  Diotrephes loved to have first place in the church.   The apostle John wrote of him, “to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.  Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church” (3 John 9,10). 
            What makes pride so damaging to local congregations is not the deeds that are done so much as the motive behind the deeds.  Paul spoke of those who saved souls, not out of love for the lost, but out of envy and strife (Phil. 1:25f).  Pride will cause some to hog all the work or leave all the work to others.  Arrogance causes many to be selfish with their money, time and even the truth.

            Only congregations filled with humble servants can hope to survive. Brethren with a proper love for self and others will not be moved by pride.  After all, “love does not parade itself, is not puffed up” (1 Cor. 13:4).
            Another destructive force within the Lord’s church are the excuse-makers. Some act as if they can give any old excuse and they are excused.  An excuse is not a good reason.  For that reason one excuse is not as good as another.  Mark Twain was once approached by a neighbor, “Can I borrow your axe?”  “No,” was Twain’s quick reply.  His neighbor demanded, “Why?”  “Because I need it to eat my soup with.”  Twain’s point was that one excuse is a good as another if you simply don’t want to do something.  

            The Bible is an excellent excuse remover.  When you excuse yourself with “I can’t” remember“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil. 4:13).  A member will argue, “I haven’t the time.”  Christ said, “seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Mt. 6:33).  A class needs to be taught and they suggest,  “Get someone else.”  Isaiah said,  “Here am I, send me” (Is. 6:8).  A goal for soul winning is suggested and a brother argues, “It can’t be done.”  Yet, “with God all things are possible” (Mk. 10:27).  There are those who excuse themselves with: “I am too tired.”  Again, in Isaiah we find:  “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” (Is. 40:31).  When an invitation is extended to obey the Gospel or repent, the needy soul will think: “I will when the time is convenient.”  Paul claimed, “Now is the accepted time” (2 Cor. 6:2).  Some will even offer this revealing excuse: “I know I ought to but...”  James wrote, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (Js. 4:17).  Others think they have a reasonable excuse when they admit their fear: “I may fail.”  These need to remember the promise of Jesus: “Lo, I am with you always even to the end of the world” (Mt.28:20). 

            Excuse-makers rob the church of much help, time and opportunity.  Remember, Jesus said, “Go into all the world and make disciples.”  He did not say, “Go into all the world and make excuses.”
            A preacher asked a lethargic Christian he was hoping to motivate, “Do you know what’s wrong with the church?”  His reply was, “I don’t know, and I don’t care.”  Without knowing it, he summed up two of the most ruinous affects upon the church: ignorance and apathy.   Many think they know all there is to know, but in reality they are extremely ignorant. Many highly-educated individuals are infants in the field of religion. As a result, they promote false doctrine.  They can’t teach others, (Heb.5:12—14) and they don’t know their responsibilities to God, the church or others.  Still, there are others who do know that truth but do not care. 

            Since ignorance is mostly self-induced, the best cure is continued study of the Word of God (2 Tim. 2:15).  Continued ignorance without any attempt toward improved understanding will lead to blindness (Eph. 4:18).  As a result of spiritual blindness brought on by ignorance, man is dangerous to the cause of Christ (Mt. 15:14).  The great cure for apathy is to realize how much God cares for your souls and for us to realize that our souls and eternity are at stake.
            Moses was a great leader.  He was often frustrated with the children of Israel.  They were incessant bellyachers. They murmured and complained about everything.  Things have not changed too much among God’s people.  Today, the church is plagued with those who mumble, rumble, and grumble.

            What makes the grumbler so pernicious is his general outlook upon life.  He tends to be a very self centered person.  He is often blind to his own faults. Worst of all, he discourages others.  Many of the weak lose faith because of fault-finders.

Many young Christians don’t work because of what they hear complained about.  Others will just  leave the church.  Bellyachers are even contagious.
            Whether because of the proud, the excuse-makers, the ignorant and apathetic, or the grumbler,  congregations are at risk of being brought to ruin.  Make sure you are not one of these fatal foes of the Father’s family.

- Daniel R. Vess