SHELVED

SHELVED

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Revelation 2:2-3 "'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

  There are truths we saints love to tell others. Then there are truths we saints do not want to hear; freedom for others while we ourselves are in bondage to self-interest.

  Awoke this morning remembering words of pastoral theology (Biblical shepherding.) class decades ago in Maryland Bible Institute, a place where we were confronted with many hard things having to do with serving our Lord. 

  “How can the health of a church be measured?” asked the instructor.

  The ensuing discussion was quite lively with most opinions having to do with congregational carnality versus righteousness and/or church good works versus lack thereof.

  The instructor stood smiling as the comments surged and then ebbed. Holding up his hand for silence, he told us that a church may have many good works and not be dominated by overt carnality but still not be healthy.

  First he had us silently read Revelation 1:19-20 thru 3:1-22. Then the instructor had a different student read aloud each letter addressed to the 7 churches.

  “How is your home church like one or several of these 7 churches?” It was not a rhetorical question!

  Most commonly identified the church at Ephesus.

  Again the instructor emphasized that a congregation could be doing many good and works and be low on the scale of sinning, but not be a healthy church.

  Then he gave us our homework assignment:

·         Does your church have a library?

·         Is the library easily accessible to the congregation?

·         What categories of books are on the shelves?

·         What is the ratio of Christian fiction and self-help books to Christian biographies, autobiographies to Bible commentaries, theology, and history?

·         Which classifications of books have the highest readership?

·         Does your church have a congregational prayer and praise list?

·         What is the ratio of praise to prayer requests?

·         Are most of the praises for material and/or health blessings?

·         Are there any praises for God’s challenges?

·         Are there any praises for Romans 12:1-3 contrite life-changes?

·         Are most of the requests of the fix-me/heal-me/fix-them/rescue/bailout nature?

·         How many requests are of the show-me/send-me/servant nature?

  In the next session the instructor, a longtime experienced pastor, told us that he constantly kept a shepherd’s eye on his congregation using these measures, and responded accordingly to individuals, groups, and from the pulpit to the congregation.

  Now, who and what are on our life shelf?

EBB4