(continued from last week)
If a congregation does not speak boldly and clearly about parents needing to discipline their children-including the remarks in Scripture about corporal punishment-but also does not support families so they can have all the resources they could want to raise their children first and foremost in the nurture and admonition of the Lord…
If a congregation does not take care of widows, especially those who do not have believing or living relatives-those who are widows indeed-and teach that one who would not take care of his widowed mother is worse than an unbeliever.
If a congregation does not seek to help the orphan and even provide ways for those young people who do not have believing parents to still know the truth and mature in the faith. That congregation is not fully restored
If a church decides that the plight of the poor is too much to worry about. OR if a church decides that those who are rich will never want to hear the Gospel…
If a congregation, is not thinking beyond the borders of their own town, state, county, and continent and having the same world-wide, all ethnic group encompassing view of salvation that Jesus did…then that congregation has restoring to do.
If the elders of a congregation have basically charged themselves with the role of a board of directors instead of a group of shepherds who know the flock, feed the flock, speak to the flock, listen to the flock, care for the flock…
If the deacons have very little to do because the elders are doing the tasks that deacons are Biblically set apart to do…
If the preacher preaches the Word but does not do so in both good times and bad and, instead, tailors his message just so he can “keep his job” instead of preaching what people most need to hear…that congregation is not fully restored.
If every member of a congregation is not being led by elders and other church leaders to grow into the fullness of the stature of Christ and, instead, the leaders just sort of let some people go fend for themselves and hope they’ll figure it out…
If worship to God has become routine and is not a time of reverent praise, offered in spirit and truth, centered not on ourselves but on God and His Son…
If the only time Christians ever see each other or interact about Scripture is on the Lord’s Day. That congregation is not fully restored to the way it would please God.
If a congregation allows minors to become majors and fumes and fusses over things that do not matter in the long run. OR if a congregation allows majors to become minors and simply decides to do whatever will draw a crowd, without looking to Scripture as the ultimate guide for every decision. That congregation is not restored.
If a congregation does not preach and teach on giving because it looks like they just want money…continued on page mere suggestions and, instead, decides to appoint “good ol’ boys” or put men in the eldership simply because they are good businessmen or are well known in the community. Or if a congregation adds to the qualifications for elders, so that the eldership becomes more of an exclusive club than an office that the Lord has given clear guidelines to. Or if a congregation chooses to make a man a deacon in the hopes that that will help him be more faithful. Or if a congregation decides to allow women to be elders or deacons because that’s just the way the world is going, so we’d better go along to get alongIf a congregation does not ward off gossip, both in person and through digital media…
If a congregation decides some sins are just part of the culture in their area-maybe gluttony or gambling or dancing-so it’s no use preaching or teaching on them and tells the elders to tell the preacher that. That church is not restored to the NT pattern yet…
If the regular preaching and teaching and council of elders, preachers, Bible class teachers, and other leaders does not give people a balance of the fear of sin and the hope of Christ…
If Christians in a congregation are allowed to be divided and not deal with past issues or grudges because it’s easier to just let things lie…
If people like Euodia and Syntyche are not specifically told by leaders to agree in the Lord because their tiff is tearing at the fabric of church unity. That congregation is not restored to the faithfulness God requires.
If elders do not lovingly but boldly tell people that repentance involves fruits that is, clear signs of change. OR if elders demand immediate change from everything instead of patient teaching to help someone see their sins and repent of them…
If certain people are allowed to get away with things that others would not simply because they have position or money or a have large family in the congregation or have been part of the congregation for decades…
If young people are not taught to honor their parents and, instead, are just excused in their dis-obedience and rebellion because “that’s how kids are these days.” That congregation is not restored to what God desires.
If prayer is not a constant…If singing is merely ritualistic…If sermons are motivational after-dinner speeches…If heaven and hell are not both preached and taught with equal seriousness. Then that congregation is not fully restored.
If denominationalism is seen as normal and is not clearly preached and taught as a sin. If Christians are not taught that there really is only one church and that church is the one you read about in the NT. OR if “the way we’ve aways done it” is held up as the standard for decision making and human tradition is seen as a test of fellowship. That congregation is not restored in a way that please God.
If a congregation decides to raise money in a way that is not from free-will offerings, such as a bake sale or car wash. OR if church leaders are afraid to preach and teach that giving is to be sacrificial and not just an easy thing…
If a congregation is overtaken by the politics of a party and sees whoever is in the White House or the Congress or the governor’s mansion is the savior or the enemy, instead of a leader appointed by God for whom we should pray-whether we agree or disagree with that person…
Finally. If the clock is more crucial than the cross…If money is more meaningful than the Master…If popularity is more pressing than the “blessed and only Potentate.” If the building is more binding than the Bible …we still have much work to do, for, RESTORATION IS ONGOING!
Adam Faughn, Central church of Christ, Paducah, KY
