Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
In my July 21 column in the Quay County Sun, I wrote about Christians being wholly owned and operated by God with a network of other Christians, God’s word and the Holy Spirit to provide for our needs during our life on earth.
To remain wholly owned by God, we must become and stay wholly holy — sanctified, sealed with his Holy Spirit, set apart to his purposes, and growing to attain the fullness of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Acts 2:38-39; 22:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:11-16; 3 Peter 1:3-11). As each member of the body (local congregation) grows and does its part to fulfill God’s purpose, the whole body grows (1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:22-23; 3:20-21; Acts 16:5).
God arranges the body’s parts to work as a unit for his purposes, giving each part at least one specific function according to his will (1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Romans 12:3-8; Philippians 2:12-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15).
Usually, when an active member moves to another town or congregation, they leave a hole that God finds a way to fill so the body can continue to function. But when any other member becomes inactive and doesn’t function according to God’s purposes, it leaves a hole keeping the body from functioning to its greatest potential. Basically, they are consuming valuable resources, thereby, being a drain on the body (Luke 13:6-9; John 15:1-10).
Think about how you feel when you of know others who could be at church but aren’t. Even “pew-warmers” are a positive leavening because others see their regular attendance. Therefore, we’re to attend church whenever possible, giving and receiving encouragement as faithful Christian being a positive leavening that pleases God by making the whole batch holy (Hebrews 10:19-25; Titus 2:11-15; Galatians 5:9; Romans 11:16).
Inactive members, therefore, become an evil leavening, which is actually the context of Galatians 5:7-10, from which I cited verse 9 previously because of the loss occurring when things fall through their holes (Haggai 1:5-6; Psalm 7:15-16). Even mature Christians can follow their example and blindly also fall through or into the hole (Galatians 2:11-13; Matthew 15:13-14). Jesus said it would be best to remove from our lives things or people who lead us astray (Matthew 18:1-9; Revelations 2:12-19; 3:1-6, 14-22; 2 Timothy 2:15-22).
Consider this: Had the one-talented servant of Matthew 25:14-30 simply put his master’s money in the bank rather than in a hole, he would have laid up treasures for his master, which actually would’ve become his own treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20). When others saw him going to the bank to check on his master’s money, they might’ve been encouraged to make deposits (lay up treasures) themselves (Matthew 5:14-16). Alternatively, when he saw his fellow servants and learned how well their investments were doing, he might’ve gained confidence to invest his allocation as well, bringing even greater glory to his master and increasing his own heavenly treasures.
Are you keeping your pew warm? That’s certainly not all there is to being wholly holy, but it is a great start (Hebrews 12:14-15)! See ya in church.
Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].