Despising the Church
Despising the Church
INTRODUCTION Notes taken from G. W. Truett’s book, "Some Vital Questions," page 127.
1 Corinthians 11:22, "... or despise ye the Church of God. . .?" This thought or question is drawn from the Communion chapter where their bad behaviour was a shame to the Church at Corinth. In this lesson we will consider other ways that we sometimes despise the Church without intending to do it-not realizing the implications of our thoughtless actions. In the Old Testament God dealt with a nation. In the New Testament He deals with a Church. After Pentecost when the Spirit descended they were all baptized into His body. The Church is more than an earthly organization. It is Christ’s Body. At conversion each one of us is baptized into this Body.
Some have prominent positions, eyes, tongue, hands, etc., but most Christians occupy a minor, insignificant, hidden place inside the body, probably a minute cell. But if that hidden cell is damaged the whole body suffers. The Church is the invisible body of believers. The visible Church is an earthly organization that includes good and bad, wheat and tares, saved and hypocrites. The earthly Church is unfortunately divided into sects, denominations and isolated ones. Jesus’ present occupation is building the Church, Matthew 16:18, "... upon this rock I will build My Church. . ." This is not an edifice of stone but a living Body. Do we despise this Church? To despise means to treat with contempt, to loathe, abhor.
I. HOW MAY THE CHURCH BE DESPISED?
The unbeliever or atheist ridicules the Church as a despicable, useless organization.
The Christian, of course, would not despise the Church in this manner.
Unfortunately the Christian adopts more subtle means.
Forsaking church attendance. Hebrews 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is."
When we do not attend church it is a way of saying to the community, "Church attendance is not important. It is good to go to church if you feel good, the weather is good, you have no other engagement and you have plenty of time. " This is despising the Church for you are treating it lightly in that you recognize other things as having greater importance and prominence in your life. Of course we recognize that those who are really ill cannot come to church, but we are speaking of those who get a headache at church time but it fades away in time to go out to dinner at noon.
We despise the Church by accepting its benefits without accepting responsibilities:
.We take our children there to be dedicated but never take them to Sunday School.
.We take our young people there to get married but never erect a family altar at home.
.We have our names on the Church roll but live like heathen or unbelievers.
.We go to Communion once a year or once a month but never seek to win the lost.
.We enjoy the Christmas and Easter programs but never learn the other truths of the Word.
.We take our dead there to be buried but continue to live wickedly without preparing for death ourselves.
. We despise the Church by reducing it to a social club for business, entertainment or matrimonial purposes.
By failing to make preparation for the service.
We expect the preacher to study, pray and prepare well. Each member should also prepare. It is good and proper to come to Church dressed clean and neat, but the most important preparation is to come spiritually prepared by prayer and Bible study.
Come in the spirit of expectancy, expecting God to feed your hungry soul. Bring your Bible, a pencil and a bit of notepaper to mark or record your blessings.
By failing to listen or being irreverent during the service.
God dislikes irreverence. Remember that you are in God’s house to worship Him. It is not only what we hear but also how we hear.
We despise the Church by lax religious beliefs, views and convictions regarding doctrine. There is no excuse for religious stammers in the pulpit or pew.
We learn how to market, sew, cook, do business-everything for the daily life--but can we prove the Deity of Jesus Christ?
If we cannot prove the doctrine from Scripture then it is a shame on us and the Church.
By wrong and inconsistent lives. If I see a church member who is a flagrant sinner, I say, "Shame on that church that cannot make a better Christian than that."
As a member of this congregation you bear a heavy responsibility before this community. To live wrongly after professing salvation is despising His Church.
By unworthy giving to the church. To a small child you give ten centavos for coke but only five centavos to the Church. Is this showing respect or disrespect?
If I recognize that giving to the Church is giving to the Lord, then my gift reflects the extent of my love to Him, my Creator and my Saviour.
Under law we would expect to pay a tithe (one tenth). Under grace we ought to give the tithe plus a love offering.
By using my talents poorly. I sing for entertainment of others but refuse to sing in the choir.
I speak at parties and entertain and exhort but never use this talent for the Lord.
I have a splendid personality for my friends and business associates, but never use this talent for the Lord for soul-winning.
Consciously or unconsciously we are saying, "My talent is too good to be wasted on that small church." Caution: False humility is a form of pride.
I believe that this is despicable in the sight of the Lord. Remember the Church is His body, not just a weak earthly organization.
God and the Church ought to have the first claim on my life.
By being a Christian detached from the Church. This is extreme separation. The Church is not holy enough for me, too many hypocrites in it.
I sit at home and listen to Dr. Billy Graham on the radio instead of attending church. This is despising His Church, His Body.
Even if we cannot agree 100%, we can still have fellowship, one with another. j. By refusing to join the Church. That is saying, "I am too good for that Church."
RESULTS OF DESPISING THE CHURCH OF GOD
The Lord Jesus must feel terribly hurt; we are sinning against Him.
The earthly organization is weakened. The Church needs you and you need the Church.
The sinner is stumbled and turned away from the Saviour.
A clean strong Church attracts sinners to Christ.
As a result the Christians who do attend are weakened and overburdened. The tasks are too great for so few people.
Basically the non-attender is the loser.
Spiritually, for your spiritual life is stymied.
Economically. God gives to those who give to Him.
Morally. You need the moral teaching and strengthening of the Church.
Physically. God requires that you leave work and worship Him one day in seven.
REMEDY FOR DESPISING THE CHURCH OF GOD
Recognize your sin. You have despised the precious Body of the Lord Jesus.
Confess the sin to the Lord Jesus, 1 John 1:9, and He will cleanse and forgive it.
Promise God that never again will you be careless in this important matter.
Pray and ask God to teach you how to honour and respect the Church, the invisible Body of Christ.
Tell your pastor that you have erred but that he can count on you to be a much better member in the future, beginning today.
CONCLUSION It is a dangerous thing to despise the Church that Jesus Christ is busy building.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Define the word "despise" as used in 1 Corinthians 11:22.
What was the special object of God’s care in the Old Testament? In the New Testament?
How do unbelievers despise the Church?
List ten ways that a believer may despise the Church of God.
What are we saying (consciously or unconsciously) when we do not attend Church?
Mention 7 benefits that the Church offers to a community.
Of the ten points mentioned in question 664, which do you consider the worst? Why?
Give 4 results of despising the Church.
In what four ways is the non-attender the loser by not attending Church?
What is the remedy for despising the Church?