JUST AN OBSERVATION

"It has been said that the average 'church member' has heard over 4,000 sermons, 8,000 congregational public prayers, 20,000 congregational songs sung, and brought 0 sinners to Christ."  - Charles Hodge

That pretty well describes the situation, doesn't it? Seeking the lost is something church members only sing about as they sit on comfortable pews in their nice air-conditioned, commodious church buildings at the appointed times to go through the religious rituals, called our church traditions. Today's church, now turns perhaps 95% of its effort upon themselves. The lost can just go to hell, if they won't come to us in our appointed places at the appointed times. Who really cares anyway? It has been a long, long time since I heard a church with a 'personal work' program of reaching the lost that lasts for any period of time. Church members generally are too much in love with the 'here and now' to spend much effort on the 'there and then'. They like to see some evidence of their religion at work;  like, bigger and more elaborate super-structures, called Sanctuaries, some professional staff calls them Church Plants, Family Life Centers, Recreation Facilities of a physical nature, hiring of more and more professionals for the full staffing of the Corporate Institution, called "_____  _____ Church". Staffs consist of the Pulpit Minister, Associate Minister, Pastor, Associate Pastor, Youth Minister, Hospital Minister, Music Minister, Minister of Involvement, Senior Citizen Minister, Singles Minister, Children's Church Minister-ette', etc... the end is not in sight yet!

In my foggiest of notions, I cannot perceive that this is what Jesus had in mind, when He personally told His followers to go into all the world, proclaiming the good news to the lost, living before them as God would have us be a good example, that they, might be constrained also to turn to God by seeing Christ living in us!  Can you imagine those early Christians paying someone to lead singing of the songs that they sung as praise to Jehovah? Its a reflection upon everyone. The saints who care should examine what the real and underlying cause is for all of this, as well as the need for other hired professionals! It is for themselves, while practically nothing is done to PREACH THE GOSPEL TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD! For shame, for shame....

Let's cast off every weight that hinders us from running in the greatest race of life! Amen

Yours for Truth and Freedom......Horace Hooper