A C T S 2.  V 42-47

 

 Some years ago , a prominent journalist of his time, wrote a piece about the Church in which he pictured it as ‘a dying bourgeois cult’, where few gather as Church bells ring out, mainly elderly middle class females led by a dispirited Vicar.

     That is a view I suspect many people hold, and if we are brutally honest, will have to agree is fairly typical of the scene in many places.  Congregations are largely middle-class, elderly and female, which however just goes to show the wisdom of elderly middle-class ladies.  Yet there are numerous Churches across the country, which attract large congregations of mixed ages, sex and class. We have to consider why this is so.  

     In the Western countries, it is true that we are living in a post Christian age where the majority of people have little or no time for God and His Church, unless they want a baptism or wedding and then they find God and His Church can be useful.  In addition, we have biased judges, politicians and public officials taking the opportunity of trying to wipe it out of public life. 

     The majority of people however do claim to be Christians, yet do not want to attend Church.  There is a fundamental difference between being religious and being a Christian.    Over 90% would claim to be Christians, and whist they could be classified as Christian sympathisers or supporters, Christians they are not.  A Christian is one who has committed their life to serve and worship the Lord, and is present at Church.

     There are of course the usual excuses, such as,    ‘Can’t we read the Bible at home and listen to services on television, which they never consider doing. .People say ‘I can be a Christian without going to Church’.  That is like saying a fish is still a fish without being in water, but just as water is essential for the fish’s survival, so is Church for a Christian’s survival.

     There are very few people who would seriously deny there is a God, indeed the majority own up to believing in our God, but that is as far as they go.      

     Today the Church is often seen as a sort of social organisation with a spiritual flavour.  There are parts of the Church which encourage this image as more attention is paid to that side than the spiritual.  So we should remember when the disciples sought out Jesus to attend to people’s needs, He replied that what He came for was to preach the gospel.  Whilst He did perform many acts of mercy, His main purpose of preaching was made clear.  That, I suggest should be the attitude the Church takes, namely that we will engage in social activity, but never at the neglect or reduction of our main purpose.

     The Bible sees the Church as much more than just another social organisation.  Paul gave instructions in several of his New Testament Letters, as to how we should conduct ourselves in relation to the Church.  He called the Church a pillar and support of the truth, the household of God.  This means the Church has a special importance in God’s plan.  It also means we ought to know how we are to live and function within that plan.

So let us look at the model of a Christian Church, as seen in Scripture in that first Christian Church, and perhaps find a reason for the falling off by so many people today. 

     First it was a Bible based Church. 

They were devoted to the Apostles teaching, it captivated them.  Those early Christians listened to the Apostles, who in turn had been taught by our Lord.  They heard all that the Lord had given and laid down, as the faith should be lived out.  It was about Jesus, who He was, what He came to do,  how to obey Him and about His second coming  to judge the world. 

In other words, the whole Christian faith. 

Notice it says ‘devoted’ themselves, this means they were committed, no half heartedness. The wonderful thing is that we too can follow the Apostles teaching, it is written down for us in the New Testament, and it is God’s way of providing for His people to be trained. 

     A Church which is spiritually healthy will make the teaching of the Bible its primary task.  And indeed, it is those evangelical Churches which are biblically based, and doctrinally sound, which are thriving.

 The reading of Scripture in Church is the only Biblical teaching most people receive.  This is necessary to increase our faith, and enable us to properly determine the various moral issues which are so prevalent in today’s society. 

 Sadly there is much preaching these days which is not biblically based.  There is a tendency to re-write the Bible in order to conform with society’s morals. and to fall in with the general air of political correctness.

Whilst I have always admired Charles and John Wesley, I have recently had to study the life of Charles extensively, in order to conduct a service in his honour, and that admiration has grown.  If he were alive today, he would have much to say at the way the Church has failed to proclaim the message he left, that salvation was through Christ alone, the value of a person’s life was measured by their faith,   and the doctrine of heaven and hell.  How often have you heard sermon on these subjects.

They were a fellowship Church.

 We share a relationship to God and to each other, based on a common spiritual life. God put us with a variety of people we may not ordinarily like, but God expects us to grow together.   We are to care for one another, and when others need encouragement and support, we are to give it. 

The Bible uses several names to describe God’s people, and the most powerful is that of a family.  In families, we are related to one another, a bond based on allegiance and fidelity.  A family consist of  different ages,  different gender, different experiences and background  and it is God’s way of providing for His people to grow together.  This is why we need to come to learn the Bible, from readings and sermons, praying together for our needs, and the world  praising God as we sing together; sharing the bread and wine in Holy Communion, as we remember what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. 

We can go to another country, a mixture of ages, gender

Language and colour, all one in Christ Jesus

     Thirdly, they were a committed Church. 

They met regularly.  There are those for whom the Church is a second choice.  There are times in all our lives when personal situations arise which call for our attention, but for some Church will take second place in their list of priorities, something which Jesus Himself condemned.         

     It can be so easy to go with the flow and give up, which is why the Bible urges Christians to be together. Each year hundreds of people give up worship.  There many reasons, pressures of the world,  ridicule from friends,  family trouble,   a bad experience at a church,

 all of which are expressly good reasons for going to church.

 I have asked two young people. one man and one woman, both in the 20/30 age group, intelligent people, who do not got attend a Church, and asked why nor?

The answer I got they did not learn anything as the sermons were of little spiritual meaning.

 I know people have busy lives, but there are many men and women who do attend Church, who have equally busy lives, and yet manage to arrange their lives to enable them to come. Time can be found for other things, so it is all down to priority. Those first Christians were ordinary people just like you and me, with the same demands on their time, but their actions reflected their priorities. You need only stand outside a mosque, and see how many men and women come out of their meetings.  How can their lives be so different from Christians?  Jesus fiercely denounces complacency, and He appeals for wholeheartedness, or true commitment.   

  So what about you and me today? There is always the temptation on a Sunday morning, to think ‘they will not miss me if I don’t go to Church.’  I am sure your fellow members will miss you, but more so, God will miss you.  Don’t fall prey to the devil.    

  As we examine ourselves today, as we prepare to receive communion, let us ask ourselves, ‘are we half hearted or wholehearted in our commitment to Christ?’  A tepid commitment is no commitment at all. Jesus said that way the church is behaving in a way which serves no useful purpose.  No-one is farther from the truth in Christ than the one who makes an idle profession without real faith. It is largely a case of priority, and Jesus expected to be given priority. 

 If we can find time for all the other things in life but not for Church, we must ask ourselves how important is our faith, God, and Jesus to us. If you consider yourself a Christian and a believer, then failing to attend church is not an option.  Many older people would love to attend

Church, but for health reason are not able,  They can be online followers on Sundays; the number of services are limited in the United Kingdom, but the United States of America  have some real evangelical services.

 The Bible repeatedly tells us that Church attendance is an essential for a Christian. It is necessary for your spiritual well- being, it pleases God as you obey the 4^th Commandment.  

 It shows our love and worship toward God. It demonstrates our faith and trust in God.

The great American evangelist D L Moody told the story of a young man, who had fallen away, and as they sat round a coal fire, Moody knocked one of the coals into the hearth and it died out.  He picked it up and put it back on the fire, and it glowed.  He pointed out to the man that this is what happens when a Christian falls away from Church, they burn out

     Fourthly they were a growing Church

their numbers increased rapidly.  We must remember Christianity spread throughout the ancient world without any radio, television, or any means of mass communication.  If we expect great things from God great things will happen.    If we today want to see the Church grow we have to be devoted to the task. When life gets hard for people they are more inclined to think of the Church, and for a lot of people life has become very hard. 

  A great fault in the Church today is apathy.  There is too ready an attitude to accept the situation as it exists.  We don’t let people know exactly what the Church truly stands for.  There is an image as mentioned earlier of indifference, ancient language and solemn music.  It need not be any of that.  We have wonderful music to choose from, and the most vibrant message that can be offered.  We just need to proclaim it.  

We are having an election, in which the parties have posted through our doors letters telling us all the wonderful things they can offer. I believe  the Church should be telling what we are doing as we have more to offer, and more truthful also  In simple terms let people know we care, have good music, tell Bible stories in plain words and would really like to see them.  

     Business spends millions of pounds advertising and they wouldn’t advertise unless it paid off.  We are in the Lord’s business, and should not be reluctant to advertise.    In spite of living in a world of opposition, we must hold fast to the faith in which we believe and draw near to God with a sincere heart. 

The Bible states, ‘I urge you to strongly contend for the truth once given to the saints.’  That truth, was that which is now written down in Scripture, which so many people want to amend, and indeed ignore when not compatible with their way of living.

We are under so much pressure by press, television to turn away from fundamentals, and government legislation works against us. The messengers of secularism and multiculturalism are given so much attention.

  The messengers of Islam and other faiths, are not ashamed or reluctant to boldly proclaim their message, nor will they allow their faiths to be abused, neither should we.          

  Let us take inspiration from those Christians who daily face terrible persecution of their faith in other nations, and many other countries, having their Churches and homes burned down, assaulted and imprisoned, and even murdered, but never give in or lose faith.        

Believe God’s promise. Read the Scriptures, keep coming. Never give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, and let us always give each other encouragement

Thank God for His Holy Gospel. Praise the Lord Jesus