THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH?

“…while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”

A recent Barna survey discovered an alarming trend where professing Christians are opting to online resources for their faith experiences. (http://www.theblaze.com/stories) In other words, the priority of the local church is being demoted. Below is a response to this by my friend & fellow pastor, Mike Wing, from Nebraska, USA. 

Even in more theologically solid churches it is evident that professed believers have come to overlook the importance of corporate worship as designed by God. For many saints, their participation in church is limited to attending one service a week. Period! Some will excuse themselves by pointing to busy schedules, family responsibilities and a host of other "legitimate" reasons why they do not participate in the corporate worship or "body life" (Individual service beyond the corporate worship service) of their local church…. Only a small, very small percentage of professing believers are actively using their gifts to build up the body of Christ! 

People will often offer critiques of "Church" in a vain attempt to justify their carelessness…. But it is rare to hear of people who are concerned about how they can be used to encourage other saints, how they can use their gifts be used to serve the Lord and His bride, how they can be Christ-like in their humility so that they may see and enjoy Christ and the work He has for them to do….

I am afraid that Christians have become weary in well doing. Worn out with the daily responsibilities of life, something has to give ... and sadly, they believe that faithful participation in a local church is an acceptable and, they believe, unavoidable option….. If believers are to survive and thrive in these difficult days - to the glory of God, we need to make the faithful local church a priority in our lives! (Gal. 6:7-10; Heb. 10:23-25; 1 Thess. 5:9-11; Rom. 1:11,12)