 The
Proclaimer
What's Makes A Church Great?
It is not opportunity nor the lack there of
that is the margin of difference between success and mediocrity for either
the individual Christian or the church. Nor is it the doing of some great
or spectacular thing in the eyes of men that produces the real distinction
of success. But it is, rather, the doing of countless behind the scene
activities that produce the grand performance and, in the end, the great
church.
The greatness of a church is seen in its
service, and since there is such a large distribution of obligation and
responsibility, the average member is apt to overlook the importance of
attending daily to those countless duties that make a church truly great.
He is apt to consider those who bear public part in the worship and
leadership of the congregation as the only ones upon whom rests any special
or particular responsibility, when in fact they bear no greater
responsibility than anyone else.
To be sure, good preaching is essential to the
growth and progress of the local church (and I would consider any sound
gospel preaching good). Not only so, good leadership is also crucial to the
growth and prosperity of the congregation. But good preaching and good
leadership alone will not make a church great. Many a good sermon has
fallen to the ground barren and impotent because individual Christians have
not discharged their daily responsibilities to the Lord.
Paul writes, “And He Himself gave some to be
apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying
of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:11, 12). Evangelists, pastors and teachers
have the responsibility to prepare or equip the saints to do God’s work.
When this is done and the members of the local church carry out this
responsibility the result is: “the building up of the body of Christ.”
James writes, “Pure and undefiled religion
before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their
trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). The
word “visit” means to “care for” or “relieve” the suffering of the needy.
Every Christian ought to feel obligated to see to the needs of the sick,
care for the unfortunate and needy, be hospitable and cordial to the
visitor. In short, we cannot serve God without serving one another.
Paul tells the young evangelist Timothy, “And
the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to
faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2Tim. 2:2). Such
important work simply cannot be left to just a few. Every individual
Christian has the responsibility to teach those who have never obeyed the
gospel as well as attempt to restore the brother overtaken in sin. It must
be realized that these responsibilities cannot be fulfilled by proxy.
It’s true that the doing
of these things may not present much opportunity for heroics. In fact, the
accomplishment of much of our service to God may often go unnoticed by
most. But God knows and He notices. And the fact is, our individual
faithfulness, as well as the success and true greatness of the church, is
dependent upon the continued faithful service of every individual member.
Indeed, herein lies the true margin of difference.
-- Clark Dugger
The Proclaimer
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