Two Sides to a Church

These past few months have been a large challenge for me at church.

Though I like everyone there, I feel that "church politics" is being allowed to kill us. I have said many times that there are two sides to any church, the spiritual side and the business side.

The spiritual side is what we as Christians are drawn to and called to church for. We attend the church of our choice, with like minded believers, to receive spiritual nourishment. Just as the body requires nourishment to carry on its daily activities, survive, and prosper; so does the spirit require nourishment to carry on its daily activities (sharing and being a light to the dark and lost world), survive (no the spirit won't die, but it's fire can be quenched), and prosper (just like the body grows, so does the spirit grow as it is sanctified in Christ).

The business side is what keeps the lights on, but has no place dictating what the church does or doesn't do spiritually. Church business can become a distraction from the true business of the church, reaching the lost. Church politics can divide a church faster than anything and is in my opinion the number one tool used by Satan to attack people trying so hard to conform to the ways of the Lord.

It is this division I am speaking of where I feel our church is being attacked using church politics to separate our members. Differences strike and hatred is the result. Even if we only allow ourselves a taste of hatred, the damage is done.

How many of us can say the relationships with our friends are the same or have grown stronger since engaging ourselves in "church politics"? Not many I am sure.

This past weekend it was mentioned that some people find themselves trying to work their way into heaven. We are taught in Ephesians 2:8-10 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

But I poss the question, is one making the acquisition that another is found boasting? (If so please read Matthew 7:5)

Yes, we have been responsible for cleaning the church, cutting the grass, cleaning the yards, painting some Sunday school classes, and many other chores around the church. But have we boasted about it? Have we made comments that our place in heaven is secured because of the work we have done? No, we have not, and I do take offence to such insinuations.

God had given us all as Christians a servant's heart. Psalm 100:2 "Serve Jehovah with gladness: Come before his presence with singing."

My father has said many times that the church is ours to take care of and if someone is able, then we should not waste the money God has blessed us with by being lazy and not taking care of our blessings.

Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Either we will meet at a place we call "church" for the spiritual side of church; or we will gather for business meetings.

John 12:26
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.

I write this blog not to call anyone out, not to upset anyone, and not to push any issues or persons I find at fault in our church. I write this to express my hope, desire, and prayer that our church will turn away from our business mindset and run to the open arms of the Father who loves us and wishes nothing but the best for us.

Rather than pushing each other down, let us pick each other up. Those that can, let them develop a servant's heart and with all good works let the glory be God's. And those that are not able to serve physically, let them be the back bone, the moral support and loving guidance we need.

1 Timothy 3:10
And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.

I write this with much concern for the future of our church and the expressed desire to stay out of "church politics". I write this in trust that God will lay His hand on our church and direct us in the way He would have us go.

Sincerely,
Brian Argabright