EVERY MEMBER AT WORK
EVERY MEMBER AT WORK EVERY MEMBER AT WORK
James D. Willeford
One of the greatest lessons we need to learn is that the Lord expects every member of the church to work. He has expected work of his people since the dawn of ftime. When, he placed Adam in the Edenic garden he ordered him “to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15).
Against great odds the children of Israel rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem “for the people had a mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6). They “laboured in the work . . . from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared” (Nehemiah 4:21). And the Lord blessed their diligent efforts with success. The New Testament further stresses the necessity of personal effort. The Lord depicted his church under several figures of speech, and each illustration used indicates that every member must work. Christ compares his church to the human body. We are all cognizant of the fact that every member of the body must function well 'if the body is to be efficient in its work. Paul said Christ is the head of the body and it is from him that “the whole body fitly jointed together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16). Again the Lord stresses that every member must bear his own responsibility if the body is to increase in right-eousness. The Lord compares the members of the church to soldiers and he says we must “Fight the good fight of faith” to lay hold on eternal life.” We are runners in the race and the inspired writer of Hebrews says “let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). To be crowned each of us must run. Christ says his disciples are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Any member of the church who loses his savor or hides his light under a bushel is worthless to the Lord. Christians are leaven and a characteristic of leaven is that it works. We are living stones in the Lord’s house and as such each of us must support his share of the load. We are branches in the true Vine and Christ says we glorify the Father in bearing much fruit. Every figure used by the Son of God emphasizes the great responsibility of each member of the church.
Teaching The World
1. Every member of the church must obey Christ’s commission to “teach all nations” (Matthew 28:18-19). The Lord says we must “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:16). Christ did not exempt any Christian from carrying out this commission, and he did not suggest that we may stop at our own city limits! We must take the gospel to the far-flung outposts of the earth. During World War II the Allies were on a “big push” toward the German border. The artillery, infantry and tanks were all thrown into the drive. The driver of each tank was given a map of the sector in which he would fight during the day. About five o’clock in the afternoon one of the iron monsters stopped and an officer rushed up and demanded in vigorous language why the tank had halted. The driver replied “Sir, we’ve come to the edge of our map”. Every member of the church should have engraved upon his heart, not a map of his ward, or city, or state, but a map of the entire world. Sir Cecil Rhodes, one of England’s greatest explorers, was sent to Africa many years ago to look over that land and see if it would be worthwhile for Great Britain to obtain it. After returning from that continent and speaking before the great dignitaries of his homeland, he pointed to a huge map of Africa and said: “All this for England—that’s my dream.” Today, as servants of God, we should point to a map of the world and say: “All this for Christ, that’s our dream.” The question I would like to raise here is “What can the small congregation that cannot send a preacher elsewhere do with reference to this map of the world?” Time will not permit me to discuss the details tonight but let me say that if each member keeps the world map—“the over-all” good of the cause in clear focus, more can be done than is being done now; and it can be done seripturally too!
While it is most urgent that we take the gospel around the world it is also important that we take it to our next door neighbor. Once a young landy was fervently praying for the Lord to send her to China as a missionary. As she prayed the Lord opened her understanding, and suddenly it came to her that a family of Chinese lived in the flat overhead, and a family of Indians lived next door. She had her heart set on going to far away places when there were lost souls under her own roof. Of course the Lord expects us to take the gospel to China and India, but he also expects us to leaven people with whom we come in contact daily.
Members of the church have God’s promise that their work of teaching will not be in vain. Much of the good seed sown will fall into honest hearts where it will produce fruit. God said, “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).
2. If we are to be successful in persuading every member of the church to carry out the Lord’s commission we must get away from the practice of looking upon an evangelist as “The Minister.” Every member of the church is a minister of Christ, and as such each must serve. Members will not serve well if they live under the delusion that a hired servant can be brought in to do their work for them. Luke says that the disciples of Christ were scattered by persecution, but this did not stop their teaching. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Canon Farrar made this very pertinent comment regarding the work of all members of the church: “The great hope of the church of the future is that her work will be left less and less to a handful of ministers—weary, many of them, and poor, and sad at heart—but will be done more and more by the laity of the church, that is, by the vast majority who are beginning, thank God! on every side to awaken to their responsibilities” (Sermons of Canon Farrar, p. 88). The whole church will carry out its God-assigned task when each member is awakened to the awful responsibility resting upon him. In putting the church to work we must start with the individual. Do you remember that little story about the father who wanted to give his boy something to keep ’him busy for a while so he wouldn’t be interrupted in his reading? He took a page of his newspaper that showed a map of the whole world, tore it up into small pieces, tossed them on the floor, and said: “All right, son, let’s see if you can put the map together again.” It was only a few moments later that the boy said: “There it is, Dad, all fixed.” And, surely enough, it was. The father was amazed, and asked, “How in the world did you do that so fast?” “Oh, it was easy,” the boy replied, “you see, there was a picture of a man on. the back of it, and when I got the man fixed, the world was fixed too.” In the light of the Lord’s teaching we may paraphrase the boy’s answer and say, “When we get the individual fixed, the church will be fixed too.” It is imperative that we thoroughly convert each member of the church, and impress upon him the responsibility of saving the world. And we cannot stop there. We must show each how to do it. This may require much teaching, and planning, and supervision.
3. Every member of the church is presented with an unexcelled opportunity of carrying- out the great commission through the media of radio, the pulpit and the press. We must insist that our friends listen to the gospel over the radio, come with us into the assembly, and read good tracts and other publications. Much expended effort is wasted because members of the church fail to use the effort properly. Proper insistence on our part will persuade our helper at the work bench, or our partner in the office to listen when the gospel is preached. The Lord teaches that we must be persistent. When the guests who were invited to the feast failed to accept, the Lord told his servants to go 'into the highways and byways and constrain people to come to the feast. To constrain means to urge and insist until the invitation is accepted. So many times we may tell our friends where they can hear the gospel, but we fail to follow through with enough insistence. Our efforts are lost because we fail to show continued interest and enthusiasm. Wo should put our friends “on the spot” by telling them of a gospel sermon they should hear on the radio, and then asking them if they heard it. We should give them good literature and then ask for their comments on it. Persistence is the key to success in winning our friends. An unbeliever is reputed to have said “If I firmly believed, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of Christianity in this life influences destiny in another world, Christianity would be to me, everything. I would cast aside earthly cares as follies and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity. Christianity would be my first waking thought, and my last image before sleep sank me into unconscious-ness. I would labor in its cause alone. I would take thought for the morrow and eternity alone. Earthly consequences should never stay my hands or seal my lips. I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life time of effort. I would go forth to the world and preach Christ in season and out of season, and my text would be: “What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul” (Author Unknown). If every member of the church could catch this glimpse of Christianity the world would succumb (to Christ within a few years.
4. Every Christian can help carry out the great commission by properly using his money. We are the Lord’s stewards and the goods he has entrusted to our care must be used in the cause of righteousness. We could all give up many of the luxuries and non-essentials to further the gospel. Unless we do make sacrifices to spread righteousness over the world we will lose our souls, and heathen hordes may destroy our bodies. I have labored 'in Wisconsin six years, and during that time members of the church in the United States have wasted more than enough to put an assembly building and a preacher in every city of that state! I know of a young married man, a so-called Christian, too, who rented a car and made a hundred and fifty mile trip to see a movie. The trip cost thirty-two dollars! How can he explain such a needless expenditure to the Lord?
5. Members of the church are needed who will prepare to earn their living with their hands, and then move into new fields and establish congregations. There are many compensations in being a tentmaker and church builder! A few years ago I lived in Pennsylvania, and everywhere I travelled I observed small but attractive church buildings in the little towns. Most of the buildings followed the same pattern of architecture and so I inquired about them. I was informed that young preachers of a certain denomination had decided to concentrate their efforts in that state. They moved to the little towns without any means of support, and earned their living by painting, mowing lawns, and working at odd jobs. As a result they had built up churches everywhere. If they could earn a living during the depression and do a work of this kind, there is not a reason why it cannot be done today.
Brother Johnny Ramsey, who finished Abilene Christian College last year is now living in Neenah, Wisconsin, and doing a marvelous work. The small church of twenty-three members provide most of his support, but he does substitute teaching to help the family finances. Brother Robert W. Lawrence, an excellent song leader and preacher, is now living in Madison, Wisconsin, and helping with the Lord’s work. He is also going to the university to prepare for the teaching profession that he may earn his living, and establish a congregation in some northern city. A let- iter came to us recently from Amberg, Wisconsin. The writer was appealing for a high school teacher to labor in that town and take the lead in the small congregation. Young men should not wait for definite commitments with respect to financial support. If you prove your worth “In action/’ the Lord will see that you have financial support.
6. Every member of the church can work by bringing neighborhood children to Bible classes. A leading manufacturer once said in his publication that “Twenty-five million American boys and girls of each generation are not taught to read the Bible, go to church or pray.” Think of the untapped resources we have! We can save the world by saving the children, and it is so much faster than trying to convert adults. Within six years spent in Wisconsin I have seen children grow into their teens, and obey the gospel. These young people are truly enthusiastic and they are willing to fight for Christ.
Some members of the church not only neglect to teach children of others, but they fail to bring their own to the Bible classes. The Christian Advocate, a denominational publication, declares that on a recent Sunday fourteen teen-age boys coming from excellent homes were in a Sunday-school class. The teacher asked them: “How many of you boys got your own breakfast before you came to Sunday School! and thirteen hands went up! What a terrible shame that boys who want to do right, and have started right have lazy parents who sleep away the Lord’s day morning!
7. Every member of the church can work for Christ through his daily life. There was once a young Christian woman who worked as a stenographer. She discussed the Bible with her employer many times, but through his sophistry and deceptive handling of scripture she always lost the argument. This continued for several months, and then one Saturday the employer said “Jane, I want you to take my daughters to Sunday school with you. I want them to be young ladies just like you.” She lost every argument but the last one! For four years Brother and Sister Howard Justiss traveled from Markesan, Wisconsin to Madison for worship. The distance was fifty-five miles each way. This one hundred and ten mile trip was made each Lord’s day despite rain, sub-zero temperatures, and deep snows. During the four years the Justisses missed six Lord’s days, and in that period of time they had two babies born into the family. Such an example of faithfulness is worth many sermons. An example of the gospel in practice is a powerful influence for good. Many times our life is all the gospel some will read. Annie J. Flint well expressed this truth when she wrote: The World’s Bible
“Christ has no hands but our hands
To do his work today;
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in his way.
He has no tongue but our tongue
To tell men how he died.
He has no help but our help
To bring them to his side.
We are the only Bible
The careless world will read.
We are the sinner’s gospel,
We are the scoffer’s creed.
We are the Lord’s last message,
Given in word and deed.
What if the type is crooked?
What if the print is blurred?
What if our hands are busy
With other work than his;
What if our feet are walking
Where sin’s allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking
Of things his lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help him
And gladden his return?”
8. In carrying the gospel we never know who may be a good prospect. When Paul and Silas were being- shoved into the Philippian jail by the goaler it is probable that they never suspected he would be a Christian ere the dawn of another day. We must not take for granted that a person is not interested, but we must work diligently to convert everyone.
Edifying the Church
Christ not only commanded members of the church to teach and baptize people, but he also gave us the task of “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). In carrying out this part of the Lord’s commission members work in edifying the church. To edify the church is to strengthen and build it up in knowledge and life.
1. Every member must work in strengthening the weak. Paul said “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1). In writing to the Galatian members Paul said “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). By inspiration James said “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). If every member is to work in ed'ifyng the newborn babes in Christ he must do more than greet the person when he is baptized and wish him well. We spend months and years in teaching and training a newborn babe in our family. We must spend much time in teaching and training those who are weak in the faith. A few years ago an Iowa City, Iowa newspaper carried this headline: “Mary Sue, five-week old waif abandoned here a week ago by her parents.” Mary Sue was one of three children being taken by her parents on an extended trip, and they had tired of managing her on a crowded bus. So they abandoned her in Iowa City. The world was horrified and a number of homes were eagerly opened, hoping to receive the little abandoned waif. Let us each with his own local congregation in mind, ask himself if the church bulletin could not often carry similar headlines. “Mary Sue, born into the family of God on such and such a date, was immediately abandoned by her entire family, because they tired of having to bother helping her develop in the midst of the crowded days.” The Southside congregation in Waco, Texas, keeps a watch on its members by placing their names on large buttons which are fastened to a board. This board is placed near the entrance to the auditorium, and as each member comes in for worship he removes his button and places it in a container nearby. At the close of the Lord’s day the elders check the buttons remaining on the board, and in this way they know all the absentees. On Monday calls are made to determine the cause of the absenteeisms. Thus the elders can catch the first step toward drifting away from Christ.
2. The elders can edify the church by giving work to new members. In Madison a newborn babe was given the opportunity of serving at the Lord’s table for one month. During that period he and his family drove fifty miles to visit relatives, but on the Lord’s day he drove back to Madison that he might carry out his assignment. He brought his relatives with him.
While it is important that the elders assign work for new members to do they should not assume a “do nothing” attitude until they are given some work. There is much to be done, and there are multiplied opportunities everywhere. Any strong member of the church may help by asking a weak member to aid him with some particular task.
3. Every congregation should have some method of teaching and training the novice. A few congregations have classes for new converts, and this is commendable. In Madison, Wisconsin Brother Robert Lawrence goes into the homes of new members for Bible classes. Specially prepared courses are given to strengthen these members, and to get them started doing personal work. Such courses cut down the number that drift away from Christ, and they stimulate great activity toward the conversion of others.
4. The elderly women in the church may perform a great work in teaching the younger women. Paul said they should “teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children; to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:4-5).
5. The boys and men in a congregation should be used frequently in the worship services. We are living in an age of specialization, and that same spirit has seeped into the church. We feel that any man who stands before the congregation 'in some public way must be “letter perfect.” This spirit hinders the training of new leaders. It stifles progress, and it professionalizes public worship. We should strive for perfection, but we should continually develop a new reservoir of leadership. A few years ago we lost our song leader in Madison, and we had neglected to train new leaders. For a year or more we were crippled in our song services because we had no one who could direct singing. When we lost our leader we had to do something. Since we had no capable leader in the church to train our boys and men we went to our large vocational school and arranged for two hours of instruction every Friday evening. Fifteen boys and men took the course, and several of the fellows developed into fair leaders. This was done within a year. Our leadership would have been much better if it had been developed over a period of years. For several years now the Madison congregation has used thirty minute periods before Sunday evening and Wed-nesday evening Bible classes for singing. All boys and men who will lead are given two chances per week to develop their talents.
6. Every member of the church must work in promoting and maintaining peace within the church. We must all have the spirit of Abraham. When the section of land where he and Lot lived was not large enough for their many flocks “there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Periz- zite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, let there be not strife, I pray thee, between, me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we be brethren” (Genesis 13:7-8). Abraham refused to quarrel because he and Lot were brethren, and because their enemies were in the land. Contentions on their part would have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. One of the most profitable works we can do is to maintain peace in the family of God.
7. The Bible school teachers can do a marvelous work in teaching the children who come to them. This work is so great that it justifies the expenditure of much time and effort. The future of the world is 'in the hands of our teachers. This grave responsibility is reflected in the book of James where the inspired writer says the teacher “shall receive heavier judgment” (James 3:1). In view of this fact every teacher should be prepared to the fullest extent of his ability, and no child should be lost from his class through his neglect. A few years ago Horace Mann gave the dedicatory address at a new Reform School. In his address he said that all the time, effort and money put into the school would be worth it if it were a means of saving one boy. After his address a man in the audience asked Mr. Mann if he really thought such a huge expenditure of time and treasure was justified to save just one boy. Mr. Mann replied, “It certainly would be if it were my boy.” The salvation of one soul is worth a life time of work.
Every word the Bible school teacher utters in her teaching makes a lasting impression upon the heart of a child. An unknown author has well said in a poem entitled, A Piece Of Clay
“I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
It moved and yielded to my will.
I came again, when days were passed,
That bit of clay was hard at last;
The form I gave it, still it bore,
And I could change that form no more.
I took a piece of living clay
And gently formed it, day by day,
And moulded with my power and art,
A young child’s soft and yielding heart.
I came again when years were gone,
It was a man I looked upon.
He still that early impress wore;
And I could change it nevermore.”
8. Every member of the church can work through his influence. One of the best means of having a good influence is through sincere and regular worship. The worship was designed by the Lord to help us. If we do not have sufficient interest in the Son of God to be regular in our worship of him our influence upon the world is detrimental. The story is told of a man who had searched the New Testament diligently and then set out to find the church he read about in the word of God. He was looking for the church which Jesus purchased with his own blood. Each week he visited a different religious group but he always came home disheartened because none of them seemed to preach and practice full New Testament Christianity. Finally, one Lord’s day he came to the building where the church of the Lord met to worship. As he entered the building he noticed that it was packed to its capacity, the singing was zestful, the prayers scriptural and touching, and the sermon was challenging and true to the Book. He went home that day a very happy man. At last his search had ended. He had found the New Testament church. He decided to go back that night and check again to be sure. Much to his dismay only one-third of the auditorium was filled, the singing was not spirited, and the sermon had lots its zest. The man said, “No, this isn’t the church of Christ—for if it were, everyone would be back tonight, and have someone with him.” This indictment may be truer than some of us realize. Suppose we do restore the Lord’s church in doctrine and worship, but the enthusiasm and zeal of New Testament Christians is lost. Unless each member has an ardent love of souls, and an overwhelming desire to do right he is not true to Christ. And his failure is a reflection on the Lord he professes to obey.
Helping The Needy
1. When Paul and Barnabas were ready to take the gospel to the Gentiles the apostles admonished them to remember the poor (Galatians 2:10). And Paul said “this I was forward to do.” Every member of the church can work in visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction (James 1:27). In Carlsbad, New Mexico, a family had an invalid son. He became seriously ill and for weeks he needed the constant care of his mother. During this trying (time two Christian ladies went into the home every day with food. They cleaned the house, washed the :dishes and clothing, and prepared the meals. In this way almost every lady in the church worked to help someone in need. The ladies were made better by this experience, and the mother was able to sit by her son constantly till the end.
There is an excellent opportunity now for Christian women to become trained “homemakers.” In the event of illness on the part of the mother a trained worker goes into the home to provide for the needs of the children. In this way a trained worker can fill the gap left by the hospitalized and she may prevent the scars that can be left on children by many strangers looking after them. Further, the Christian worker obeys the Lord’s command to “serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). Oftentimes a father is able to pay for this service as it enables him to continue working at his livelihood. If the father cannot pay, let the congregation render this service through one of its members. In the same city in New Mexico a large family was ’in dire need due to the permanent illness of the father. The men in the church came together and built a home for the family as a gift which they were to use as long as it was needed. Such examples of church members at work bring joy to our hearts, and an inspiration that spurs us all to greater activity.
2. There is a wonderful opportunity today for members of the church to prepare themselves as social workers. Members who qualify by getting the Master’s degree in social work can do much toward getting orphan children into Christian homes. We need enough Christians in every state to qualify as case workers in the child welfare field that we may have child placing agencies across our country. These groups could help Christian families adopt children, or secure foster children to board and offer them love, security and Bible training. There is no better place to rear a child than in a Christian home. And there is no greater work to be accomplished! We have completely overlooked this approach to Christ’s command in James 1:27. The congregation should help needy foster parents to take care of orphan children by paying for their board. In this way the church is “visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction.”
3. In helping others we may be helping Christ. He said “Inasmuch as ye have done ’it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). We may never know the far-reaching effect of just one act of helpfulness. By inspiration the writer of the Hebrew letter said, ‘‘Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:1). In helping a stranger we may be helping our own. In Grant Park at Atlanta, Georgia, is the famed Cyclorama. On the eighteen ton canvass is a painting which portrays graphically the Battle of Atlanta. At the height of the battle when the Northern and Southern troops are in close combat near the Hurt House a Federal soldier hears a wounded Confederate crying for water. The Union soldier pauses long enough to give the wounded man a drink, and as he raises the sagging head he discovers that the man is his own brother. These brothers were named Martin and this incident is a matter of historical record. This story touches our hearts and it makes us realize how important it is that we work in helping others.
Back of all we have said about every member working is the reason for such work. It is done to glorify our Father and to lead many to Christ. Only God can build the church, and he builds it by adding the saved to it (Acts 2:47). It is our privilege and opportunity to lead our friends by letting our lights shine before men that they may glorify our Father in obedience. In doing the Lord’s work we are wise and Daniel says, “they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). In the New Testament we are told that “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10).
Let us follow the Son of God for he knows the way. The story is told of a man traveling in a distant country. His journey led over high mountains and he sought a guide who could direct him. One man offered his services as a guide, and the traveler asked him: “Have you been to the village where I wish to go?” The man replied: “No, but I have been part of the way, and I have heard others talk about the rest of the way.” The traveler answered, “You will not do.” Another man came and offered his services as a guide. The traveler asked him too, “Have you been to the village where I wish to go?” The man replied: “No, but I have been to the top of the mountain and have looked at the village.” The traveler said, “You will not do.” A third man came and offered to guide the traveler to his destination. He was asked the same question, “Have you been to the village where I wish to go?” And he answered, “Sir, the village to which you are going is my home.” The traveler took this man as his guide at once, for he wanted someone who had gone the whole way.
Christ is the only one who can truthfully say, “I am the way, the truth and the life,” and he can say it because he has been the whole way.