The Church

Let churches do less in criticizing their minister, and do more in praying for him; let them expect less from him and more from God; let them, as a whole, arise and put on strength; let them have no strife but which shall best serve the brotherhood to edification, and they will yet see the windows of heaven opened and a blessing poured out upon them unspeakably beyond their largest hopes. "The same God over all is rich unto all that call upon him." He is a sovereign, but yet he acts according to recognized rule, and when a people are loving, living, laboring, and longing for his presence, that presence will be vouch-. safe. When church fellowship is not a mere name, but a blessed,. joyful, active reality, when those who are called "brethren," are really so, then may we look for the blessing which maketh rich. Only the Lord can give to a church the condition requisite for success, but when he gives it he will not fail to send the corresponding increase. Churches need to be more loving within if they would be more powerful without. They must be more hearty, and more like a family; the shepherd and the flock must be on more tender terms, and brotherhood must be brotherhood indeed, and then shall we see greater things than these. C.H. Spurgeon
We all have our problems at our churches, who doesnt. It could be music, activities, dress or casual, building, money, preachers,deacons, elders, and so on. It is how we deal with them that counts. We should put it in the Lord's hands by prayer. We have all said things are not going fast enough at church and if it doesn't change in a certain amount of time I'm gone. You know what you just did, you told God that it's not His time something should happen but your time that matters. Just because you pray for something doesn't mean God will let it happen. He has it figured out, we don't. I am glad God has not went by my timing in the past. What does the outside world see in a church today? We get so caught up in arguments that the real work of the church is neglected. How does the church of today reflect Christ in its love for others? Are we to fight and talk about members and then tell the world how to behave and love each other? When things at church are not going the way we want them to go we blame everybody else, we never look at ourselves but that is the first place we should look. In Proverbs 15:18 it says "A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention." Also in Proverbs 26:21 "As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood and fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife."We all have a choise when it comes to the fire of gossip. We can add gas to it or we can throw water on it, it's your call. Instead of complaining about everything, pray to the God that can do anything. If you say your not getting anything out of church try putting something in, you cant make a withdrawal without making a deposit. If we would pray as much as we complain, WOW, what a glorious thought. All family's fuss and disagree but the ones that work are the ones that come together as one. We as Christians need to trust Christ in ALL , not just some things. There will always be a better church than yours out there. But one thing is for sure, there WILL NEVER be a better Jesus Christ and if we keep our focus on him we will overlook the earthly church and focus on the church of Christ. Just remember, the worse things go, the greater Gods grace will be.