With so many problems, churches shouldn’t argue
I sat in my office Monday morning drinking coffee, and recollecting on Sunday’s exciting worship service (one young man accepted Jesus Christ as Lord) and thinking about what an awesome God we serve and how He chooses to use us in spite of who we are. My heart was literally full of happiness.
Then my secretary brought in the newspaper and commented on the advertisement found on page 5 of section C in the July 31 edition of the Standard. As I opened the paper to begin reading the before-mentioned ad, I was shocked to see a full-page ad rebutting the “dangerous false teachings” being taught by the Churches of Christ.
As I read through the ad, the happiness that just earlier was in my heart turned to disappointment. Let me try to explain.
We are living in a day and age where much is wrong in our communities (drugs, abuse, rape, crime in general). We are living in a time in which people need help. They need help physically, emotionally, mentally and most of all spiritually.
Quite honestly, the reason why our communities are in need of such help is because the church has failed them! Instead of having debates on drugs or abortion or homosexuality or how we can help a poverty-stricken community, we are spending our money ($970.20 for a full-page ad for someone without a contract) debating whether or not baptism saves one’s soul.
The fact of the matter is if we all agree that “faith is the necessary requisite” for salvation, why are we spending valuable money debating and refuting one another. For $970.00 we can purchase 194 bibles. We can provide 100 children with school supplies. We can provide food for 100 families. We could purchase 13,800 witnessing tracts, just to name a few things.
I remind you, Jesus came to seek and saved that which was lost and He did it by loving people. That’s the main thing! In all my years in the ministry, I have not yet argued anyone to Christ. I have, however, loved many to the Lord.
I feel when “outsiders” read these full-page ads, they do not sense compassion, they sense hostility and go away saying “I’m sure glad I’m not involved in that mess.”
Let’s all work together to see our community become a better place. Let’s keep the main thing the main thing.
Gary Few
Pastor
Pioneer Community Baptist
1707 Yager Rd.
McMinnville