| September 24, 2000 |
Vol. III, No. 21
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“I am just not included at church - I am given no part.” That is really sad -if true. It is not God's intent. God designed a local church to depend upon each member. He expects every member to contribute to the body -"...the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share"(Eph.4:16). Thus, in God's design "every part" "may grow up in all things"(4:15). The ultimate aim is to "present every man perfect in Christ"(Col.1:28). If such work is not in progress, something is seriously wrong.
If a church excludes some members from the edifying process -excludes them from either the giving or the receiving, drastic changes must be made. Without doubt, it does happen. The poor are given a corner. "Odd" brethren are hidden away to prevent embarrassment. Those with an ugly past -and scars still evident -are shunned. The "not very smart" are dismissed as unimportant. Inexcusable! They are God's children; he made a place for them in his church. Woe to those who deny God's sons their rightful place and their inheritance in God's household! God himself has designed a place - and a job for you. "God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased"(1Cor.12:18). There are no unnecessary or useless body parts. However! -however!, maybe you misunderstood what that part is! And maybe you want the part that "pleases" you rather than the part that pleases him!
"I am not included" often means "I do not lead the singing." Wait! Who said you must lead singing to be involved? Is plain pew singing not involvement? Is the voice in the crowd not "included." Are the people with poor musical endowment not included? They sing poorly -they sing quietly, but they sing! -as God expects. They are not excluded because they do not lead singing? What about women? They never lead singing. Are they excluded?
Did "I am not included" mean "I was not asked to lead public prayer"? Must all lead public prayer? Surely not! Must all participate in prayer? Absolutely! This explains the need for everyone to understand each prayer and to be able to say "amen"(1Cor.14:16). Their "amen" is the door for their involvement in that prayer. Again, women do not lead public prayer; are they uninvolved?
"I am not involved" may translate " I am not asked to preach." Where did such an idea originate? Are you only involved if you are "up front"? Is learning not a part? Is a listener not included? Does comment or question from a classroom pew not qualify as involvement? Not all preach. God excluded women from preaching(1Tim.2:12) -New converts should not -the ill informed should not -unskilled public teachers should not -those with bad attitude or character problems should not. Yet all these must be included in the church's instruction process.
"Running things," is often confused with being involved. Being "up front" - "in the public eye" -"the center of attention" becomes all important. Well, get over it! Such attitudes absolutely disqualify for any leadership role. Remember: every member of the body does not have the same job. "Up front" may not be your job! Because you are not the "boss" -or the "mouth" does not mean you have no part! Be a "helping hand." Consider a role like the family of Stephanas -who "devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints" (1Cor.16:15). They were involved; who prevents you doing that? Get involved like widows who "washed the saints' feet, . relieved the afflicted" (1Tim.5:10). Who objects? What about imitating Dorcas who was "full of good works and charitable deeds"(Acts 9:36-)? or Phoebe who was a "servant of the church in Cenchrea" and who was "indeed ... a helper of many"(Rom.16:1,2). Is that being involved? Mend and heal those "overtaken in a fault" (Gal.6:1). Who excludes you?
Maybe we just expected a different involvement! Is only a high and honored part suitable? Watch out! Beware of pride that disdains the small and unglamorous roles. Get over climbing the ladder. Do what you can -no matter what it is. There is plenty you can do and no one will object. Do what you are asked to do -no matter what. They will surely ask if you volunteer to help! Participate in assemblies -whether leading or following. Contribute to Bible studies - from a seat or the podium. Exhort and encourage brethren whether privately or publicly. Support the weak (Acts 20:35), comfort the discouraged, reprove the wayward, uphold the weak (1Thes.5:14). There is a lot of important work for you to do. I guarantee there is room enough to be involved -up to your ears even.
--Joe Fitch, BIBLE COMMENT
In Matt. 6:5-7, Jesus said, "When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. But when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words."
Note first, He did not say "if you pray," but "when you pray." Jesus took it for granted His followers would pray.
Next He cautioned them not to pray like the hypocrites who loved to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners. He was not saying it is wrong to pray while standing. He was reproving the motive of those who stand in order that men would be sure to see them. A person can pray acceptably while standing, Mark 11:25; Luke 18:13-14.
Another thing Jesus told His followers was to go into their room or closet (KJV) and pray privately. He did not legislate against public prayer, but against the motive of praying to be noticed by men. Public worship should include public prayer, 1 Cor. 14:16; John 11:41-45.
Finally, He cautioned His disciples not to use vain repetitions when they pray. It is not wrong to ask repeatedly for the same thing if that is the sincere petition of your heart to God. Jesus Himself did that, and encouraged others to do so, Matt. 26:44; Luke 18:1-7. He warned against prayer that had become meaningless ritual to the pray-er. He also noted that longer is not always better, Luke 18:9-14.
A few years ago someone wrote a poem that illustrates our point:
THE PRAYER OF CYRUS BROWN
"The proper way for a man to pray," said deacon Lemuel Keys,
"And the only proper attitude is down upon his knees."
"No, I should say the way to pray," said preacher Doctor Wise,
"Is standing straight with outstretched arms and rapt and turned up
eyes."
"Oh, no, no, no," said elder Snow. "Such posture is too proud.
A man should pray with eyes fast closed and head contritely bowed."
"It seems to me his hands should be austerely clasped in front
With both thumbs pointing toward the ground," said preacher Dr. Blunt.
"Last year I fell in Hodkins' well, headfirst, " said Cyrus Brown,
"With both my heels a sticking up, my head a pointing down.
I made a prayer right then and there, best prayer I ever said.
The prayingest prayer I ever prayed I was standing on my head."
–CRJ
In Matt. 17:22-23, the Bible says that while Jesus and His apostles “were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.’ And they were exceedingly sorrowful.”
For some months now, Jesus had been trying to prepare His disciples for the up-coming crucifixion. He had alluded to it in Matt. 16:18 when He promised that “the gates of hades” would not prevail against His building His church. Even though he would die before the church came into existence, His death would not deter Him from His eternal purpose. And His church was definitely a part of the eternal purpose, Eph. 3:10-11. But they did not grasp this veiled reference to His death.
Then in Matt. 16:21-23, He had spoken quite plainly about His death, but the reaction of all His disciples is perhaps summed up in the behavior of Simon Peter. “Then Peter took [Jesus] aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You.’” They could not bring themselves to believe.
Again as Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration, Matt. 17:1-9, the topic of discussion had been the death that Jesus would soon accomplish in Jerusalem, Luke 9:31. As Jesus and His disciples descended the mountain, Jesus told Peter, James and John “that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” Mark tells us “they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant” (Mark 9:9-10). They still had not accepted the idea that He was about to die. They just couldn’t bring themselves to believe it!
Now, in our text, once again Jesus speaks clearly about His approaching betrayal and death. “And they were exceedingly sorrowful.” At last, it seems they are finally beginning to “catch on.” And yet subsequent events will show us that their understanding and acceptance of these facts were still very incomplete. In fact, it wasn’t until after they had been visited by the resurrected Christ, that they really began to take these words completely at face value. We learn from these godly men how difficult it can be to believe what we do not wish to believe. And yet, we also learn from them, and from their Lord and ours, how drastically important it is to believe and know the truth. Even when the truth is unpleasant. After His resurrection, Jesus told Thomas, “because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). And in contrast, “without faith, it is impossible to please” God, (Heb. 11:6).
–CRJ