SPECTATOR OR PLAYER?

This may be a long post but I trust it will be of benefit to God's people.

We often speak about being committed to God and doing God's will, etc.

Our depth of commitment, however, is not evidenced by what we call ourselves or who we attach ourselves to....our depth of commitment is in what we DO.

We have heard the analogy regarding our love to our spouse by stating we can SAY we love them but if we don't demonstrate that love then what is it worth?

We say we have faith, but if that faith is not demonstrated in how we respond or what we do then what is that worth?

Similarly we could say that if we call ourselves a Christian but do not commit ourselves to follow Jesus Christ as Lord then what are we demonstrating to others?

I offer the following analogy:

An viewing professional sports on television or in person you may notice that there are many, often thousands, of spectators in the stands that are fans of a particular team.

The spectator is called a fan. Why? The word "fan" used in this context is a derivative of the word "fanatic". A fanatic is one who is a person marked or motivated by an extreme, unreasoning enthusiasm, as for a cause. (The origin of the word is from the Latin "fanaticus" meaning to be inspired by the rites pertaining to a temple or a "fanum".)

What would you think of someone who called themselves a fan of a particular team but who never watched their team play? Who didn't know the rules to the game, who didn't know any of the players or the coaches or the history of the team? Who didn't care if the team won or lost, or anything associated with the team? One would suspect they were not a fan after all.

A fan, in the sporting sense, can be defined as one who is motivated to support and is enthusiastic for his team. And in that motivation he demonstrates his allegiance to the team by supporting the team, by attending the games, by wearing the team apparel, following the statistics, knowing the nuances of the game, and sometimes they even go to extreme lengths such as painting their face, wearing funny costumes, etc. The fan immerses himself in the team. But the fan is still merely a spectator. He is not part of the team and therefore does not benefit in the same way a member of the team benefits.

The spectator or fan cannot sit with the other members of the team. In fact, the fan must pay to watch the team play. The spectator cannot enjoy the clubhouse or team bus or team shower. The spectator, no matter how much a fan or supporter of the team, does not reap the benefits of a team member, no matter how minor that member may be on the team. In fact, the water-boy on the team enjoys benefits envied by the most ardent fan. The fan is still a spectator.

There are benefits to being a spectator. The spectator can leave at the end of the game and doesn't have to participate in training for the next game. Preparation to be a spectator is minimal. There is no hard, demanding physical or mental training necessary. There is no accountability, there is no effort...there is no pain. Coaches don't encourage, push, prepare, or train the spectator as he does the player. In effect, there is no effort and no risk required of the spectator. If the team doesn't play to his expectations he can quickly turn to another team. He does not need to make a commitment. And this, in itself, diminishes or negates the spectator as a committed fan of the team.

Now, what would you think of a player or member of a sports team who stated he was a member of the team but didn't participate in any team meetings, he didn't access the locker room or training rooms, he didn't associate with any of the coaches or other team members, he didn't show up for any of the practice sessions, he didn't learn any of the plays, he didn't know or care about the history of the team or the past or present players who made the team great, he didn't care if the team won or lost, but he would show up on game day expecting to be called a player and receive all the benefits of the team. Sounds ridiculous?

Might this apply in some small way to the church?

I may call myself a Christian, I may wear the apparel, I may be inspired by the sermons, the music, the fellowship...everything about the assembling of believers together but if I am not a member of the "team"(i.e. the church) I cannot fully enjoy the benefits. I am merely a spectator. I may be inspired by the "rites of the temple" but unless I am a part of the church membership I am still a spectator.

So why are there spectator's in the church? Pastor Thabiti Anyabwile, a converted Muslim who pastors the First Baptist Church, Grand Cayman Islands, writes in his book, "What Is A Healthy Church Member?";

"At root, all of these perspectives on the local church [i.e. reasons for not joining a church] stem from the same problems: a failure to understand or take seriously God's intent that the local church be central to the life of his people. People don't become committed church members - and therefore healthy Christians - because they don't understand that such a commitment is precisely how God intends his people to live out the faith and experience of Christian love." (pg. 64)

But you may object, "I don't see anywhere in the New Testament where we are commanded to ‘join a church' ". Pastor Anyabwile addresses this idea regarding the Biblical idea of local church membership in which he writes,

"Have you ever considered how many practices and commands given to the New Testament church lose all their meaning if membership is not practiced, visibly identifiable, and important? Here are a few essential things commanded in Scripture for the local church that would lose their meaning without an operational concept of membership." (pg. 65)

And he lists the following:

Church Leadership (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 13:17)
Church Discipline (1 Corinthians 5; Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13)
Keeping Lists and Voting (1 Timothy 5:9; 2 Corinthians 2:6)

He continues;

"The mark of Christian discipleship is love - love of the kind that Jesus exercised toward his followers, love visible enough that men will recognize it as belonging to those people who follow Jesus.

Not surprisingly, then, a healthy Christian is one who is committed to expressing this kind of love toward other Christians. And the best place for Christians to love this way is in the assembly of God's people called the local church." (Hebrews 10:24-25) (pg. 67)

And his conclusion?

"To fail to associate ourselves in a lasting and committed way with the Head of the church by joining his body is surely a sign of ingratitude, whether from an uninformed or a dull heart. We who have the privilege of living in countries where we may freely join a local church should keep this admonition from Dietrich Bonhoeffer in mind:

‘It is by the grace of God that a congregation is permitted to gather visibly in this world to share God's Word and sacrament. Not all Christians receive this blessing. The imprisoned, the sick, the scattered lonely, the proclaimers of the Gospel in heathen lands stand alone. They know that visible fellowship is a blessing. They remember, as the Psalmist did, how they went ‘with the multitude...to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday (Psalm 42:4)... Therefore, let him who until now has had the privilege of living in common Christian life with other Christians praise God's grace from the bottom of his heart. Let him thank God on his knees and declare: It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren.'" (pg. 76)

Consider leaving the realm of the spectator or fan and becoming a player. One who goes with the multitude to the house of God.... where you can share in Christ's work to demonstrate His love among those He has called to the community where we live that the world may know Christ lives among His people.

Amen.

posted by jrd.

Nursing Homes and the Fifth Commandment

While this might not be exciting it may be informative. I found this interesting article by Dr. John M. Frame at monergism.com. The site has many good articles that can be accessed here: http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/bio/johnframe.html


The fifth of the ten commandments says "honor your father and your mother." We teach our young children that honor here means obey, and that is, indeed, Paul's application in Eph. 6:1-3. Obedience is one form of honor, the honor that young children owe to their parents. But when children have grown to adulthood and parents have grown old, the emphasis of Scripture shifts from obedience to financial support. Jesus tells the Pharisees that they have violated the fifth commandment when, using a religious pretext, they have failed to support their parents (Mark 7:9-13). And the Apostle Paul, dealing with the needs of widows in the church, tells children and grandchildren to meet those needs (1 Tim. 5:4). He employs some of the strongest language of the Bible against those who refuse this responsibility:



But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (verse 8)



Providing for our elders is love, but it is also justice. When we were young, we were helpless. Then our parents provided for all our needs. When our parents become helpless, the roles must be reversed. We must provide everything for them, to the extent of their needs.



Those needs are more than financial. Older people often find themselves alone, without friends or family. They need companionship, mental stimulation, compassionate understanding, indeed love. So often the ideal place for them, when they can no longer live independently, is in the home of an adult child. Such home care enables the child more easily to meet the needs of his parent, and it gives the parent a real home, with loved ones and the support that only families can give.



In a fallen world, however, no situation is perfectly ideal. Home care for elderly relatives is often a difficult situation, both for the older person and for the younger family. So the younger adults often seek alternatives; but they often feel a sense of guilt about the prospect of sending their parents to live somewhere other than their family home.



Nursing homes, particularly, have developed bad reputations over recent decades. Studies have revealed deplorable care in many such institutions, as well as the tendency for younger relatives to abandon the nursing home residents. Many of those residents experience extreme loneliness and neglect. So Christians sometimes ask, is it ever legitimate to put an aged relative in a nursing home? Is such a decision ever in keeping with the fifth commandment?



There are several principles that bear on this issue:



1. It is not wrong in itself for parents to live apart from their children. Indeed, the original ordinance of marriage in Gen. 2:24 describes a man "leaving" his father and mother in order to "hold fast to his wife." This principle does not rule out multi-generational living arrangements, but it does mean that marriage creates a new authority relationship that normally is expressed by the couple living apart from their parents. As long as a parent is able to live independently, such separation is desirable, though there are certainly advantages for parents and children living fairly close to one another.



2. Even when parents are ill or infirm, we should value their independence. If they can afford and obtain the care they need while living independently, and they prefer to do that, nobody ought to object. Children, of course, should monitor such situations closely, with a willingness to step in when needed.



3. There are some medical needs that preclude either independent living or living in a family home. These are becoming more common, as people live longer and medicine becomes more sophisticated. Sometimes these needs can best be met through a long-term nursing facility. We should be thankful to God that such institutions exist.



4. Of course, there are wide disparities in the quality and cost of nursing home care. One responsibility of children is to help their parents make wise decisions among alternatives.


5
. Children should never abandon parents who have been institutionalized, but should visit often, providing prayer and emotional support.



6. When a nursing home patient has recovered to the point that such care is no longer needed or advantageous, the children should take responsibility to make other arrangements for their parents.



In short, nursing homes can play an important role in the life of Christian families. But children must take responsibility for determining how to use them in an overall context of love and care. Nursing homes should never be dumpsters for people nobody wants to have around. Rather, they should serve to supplement, when needed, a broad relationship of family care, motivated by love and honor.

The Day of Judgment

The following was gleaned from an article in Harper's Magazine from 1858 describing Charles Spurgeon, his person and his preaching. It was recently posted in the Pyromaniac's blogsite. Please read the entire article. This is, I think, a powerful testimony to every unsaved son or daughter as to the seriousness of fleeing the the Lord Jesus Christ while there is yet time.....may God give it wings.

""In the course of his sermon Mr. Spurgeon presented the following picture of the Day of Judgment: "I think I see the judgment seat and the resurrection-day, A mother with her children are standing there. Three or four of her little babes are saved for endless glory. Their little bodies have put on immortality and life; and where are you who have been permitted to live longer? The stars fire falling from heaven, the sun is changed to darkness, and the moon into blood. But, lo! there is silence in heaven, and a voice is heard, 'Gather my elect from the four winds of heaven! Your mother is about to be taken into the company of the blessed forever. 'Mother!' shrieks the son, 'lean not be separated from you forever, Save me! Oh, save me! make intercession to the judge for me. He will hear thy cry, though he will not hear mine!' 'My son,' she will reply, 'I directed thy feet to God when thou wast young. On my breast you lay when my prayers went up to God for your soul. I taught you to lisp the name of Jesus, and your lips to utter his precious name. Do you not remember how, when you grew older, I taught you the way to heaven? But the time came when you scorned a father's prayers and mocked a mother's tears. But now your mother says, now, my son, it is changed. I can weep no more now, for I am glorified. I can pray no more for you now, for prayers are useless here. You are justly lost. You are damned, and I must say Amen to your condemnation.'"

"Editor's Easy Chair" Harpers (December 1858, pg. 134)

Preach Christ!

During the 1880s a group of American ministers visited England, prompted especially by a desire to hear some of the celebrated preachers of that land.

On a Sunday morning they attended the City Temple where Dr. Joseph Parker was the pastor. Some two thousand people filled the building, and Parker's forceful personality dominated the service. His voice was commanding, his language descriptive, his imagination lively; and his manner animated. The sermon was scriptural, the congregation hung upon his words, and the Americans came away saying, What a wonderful preacher is Joseph Parker!"

In the evening they went to hear Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. The building was much larger than the City Temple, and the congregation was more than twice the size, Spurgeon's voice was much more expressive and moving and his oratory noticably superior. But they soon forgot all about the great building, the immense congregation, and the magnificent voice. They even overlooked their intention to compare the various features of the two preachers, and when the service was over they found themselves saying, "What a wonderful Savior is Jesus Christ!"

From the book, C.H. Spurgeon - The New Biography by Arnold Dallimore - Published by Moody Press - 1984 (pg. 216).