COMMITTED TO THE CHURCH

 

            I think I can say that most all of Paul’s letters to the churches (the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians) has something about members being faithful to Christ and committed to each other.  It may be hard for us to totally appreciate the commitment that members have made to the church down through the years.  When I think of my own circumstance it helps me see and appreciate the commitment that some had for the church and how it helped bring me to Christ.

            First I think of my mother being committed to just going to church.  For many years I had no choice on whether I wanted to go to church.  It was a given that I was going because my mother was committed to attending church every Sunday and in like fashion her children were going.  A man some years ago was speaking at a church growth seminar that I was attending.  At that time the big thing for building church attendance was having church buses and a bus ministry.  Many churches as well as the church I was pastoring could not afford one bus much less a fleet of buses.  This man was speaking and said that he had the answer to the bus problem for churches like the one I was pastoring.  He said to go and invite young parents into our church.  He said that if you get young parents committed to Sunday School they would bring their children with them.  That is so true.  It may not seem like it is very important to just attend church but thanks to my mom’s commitment I heard the gospel preached which led me to receive Christ.

            I benefitted from people who were committed to teaching little children in church.   Over and over again I heard the old, old, story of Jesus and his love.  Later on I had teachers who were very aware of the spiritual condition of their pupils.  They were concerned that we knew what it took to be saved.  My pastor was aware of his congregation and committed to leading us Jesus.  That pastor today has Alzheimer’s and may not remember pastoring our church but thank God he was committed to his church back in nineteen sixty eight.

            This same church had deacons who were willing to let George and Dot Burtram’s son fill the pulpit of their church when they were out of a pastor not because the Burtram boy was a prospect to be their pastor but because it gave him an opportunity to preach and share the gospel.  Oh I must say I appreciate deacons who are committed to the church.

            There is much to appreciate concerning the different ministries of the church.  An evangelist drove up in the church yard early one evening and one of the men of the church was on the porch.  The evangelist said I can tell you all are ready for revival.  “How so” asked the man on the porch.  “Because the grass is cut nice and neat” replied the evangelist.  He felt that if the congregation was committed to keeping the grass cut they were likely committed to the more vital ministries of the church.  Whether it be church decorating, WMU, Brotherhood, RA’s or GA’s, choir, playing an instrument, preaching or teaching, taking the offering or making the deposit, do it for the Lord.  It is worth the commitment you’re willing to make.

 

 

 Brother Randy Burtram

 

(Originally published February 19, 2017)