No More Excuses
Monday, June 10, 2024
“Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian.” – D.L. Moody
How convicting is that?
I am guessing that the #1 reason people give for not attending church is they say it is filled with hypocrites… and they would be right to an extent. Yes, it’s true that we all fall short of following God and obeying Him completely (Romans 3:10-12, 23); but if our heart is right and if we confess our sins in real time, I don’t think that makes us hypocrites. On the contrary, it simply makes us spiritually flawed humans in need of God’s amazing grace and mercy.
That being said, unsaved people will still use that all-too-easy excuse to justify their non-church attendance. So, my friend, it is up to us to make it as hard as possible for them to “cop out”. Simply put, if our walk mirrors – or at least closely resembles – our talk, the critics and naysayers won’t have a leg to stand on.
Remember the words of William J. Toms… “You may be the only Bible some people ever read.”
As for the #2 reason people give for staying away from church, I think they would probably say “all they want is your money.” Of course, that isn’t true… at least in most cases. How I wish more churches would simply place a box near the door for tithes and offerings instead of using precious time during the service to awkwardly – and unbiblically – pass the plate (Matthew 6:1-4).
In fact, I once urged a pastor to make a point of saying to first-time visitors “please do not place any money in the offering plate. Today, you are our honored guests and besides, it is the privilege and responsibility of our members and regular attendees to support this church financially.”
Just imagine the number of shocked faces and dropped jaws in the congregation!
So, there you have it, folks. Two suggestions for how to counter and correct common misconceptions about the church, which is the bride of Christ.
“You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 (NKJV)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
