Involvement

Most congregations realize that in order for churches to grow spiritually and in number there must be a high percentage of involvement among the membership. In some larger churches, there are "Involvement Ministers." These ministers are actually on salary and spend the majority of their time organizing and helping different age groups. We have the young people, the young adults, the middle aged, and the golden age, and they all have different needs. It is good for the church to do what it can to try to help the membership maintain good relationships with God and with the brethren.

This being said, I sometimes wonder what we are accomplishing. We need to be very careful about turning the church into the country club, the YMCA, or the community center. While we should do everything that we can to encourage fellowship and help one another, we need to realize that the church is something to which we should be wholly submitted, rather than an institution that is geared to placate and babysit the membership .

The church is the kingdom of God on earth. Jesus is the only King and Ruler of the church (1 Tim. 6:15). This makes each member of the body of Christ a servant in the kingdom of God. Involvement is not about "What can the church do for me?" It should be about the individual realization that I need to be a servant to Christ. This being the case, each one of us needs to involve ourselves in the work of the church. We plan retreats, we have fellowship meals, we have fun trips to ball games, devotionals, singings, and more - these facilitate the building of relationships, but this is not what defines the church of God.

Involvement should be inherently connected to obedience to the gospel. Many people are ready to be baptized, but they are not ready to serve. There is nothing more disturbing to a preacher than dealing with seemingly mature members who have to have their arm twisted when you ask them to do anything. Our attitude should be one of optimism and hope. We should be excited and honored that we have been asked to do something to glorify the name of Christ and build up the church.

I fear that we have been spoiled for so long with our freedom and blessings that many of us are unwilling to make life-changing sacrifices. Brethren, we need to examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5).

I may not be popular for saying these things, but I have to answer to the Lord first. God wants us to give our lives to Him in full sacrifice. Part of this sacrifice includes service in the kingdom of God. Faith is more than what we say we believe, it is what we practice.

"But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" ~ James 2:20
"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" ~ Luke 18:8