I suppose most, if not all of us, have heard or used the phrase, “Your reputation precedes you.” That can be a good thing or a bad thing.
Take the good thing and let’s talk about the church. Your church has a good reputation. Local businesses are appreciative of your efforts. The local school can count on you to help. The community sees you working to help or fix up residences or paying bills if needed. You are known as a church who can be counted on.
It can also be a bad thing. Your church’s reputation is one of selfishness. One that keeps to itself. One more interested in growing in numbers than helping the community. It is involved in “sheep stealing” (recruiting others from other churches). It sees itself as the only beacon of truth in a community of lying churches and organizations. “We are right and you are wrong. Us four; no more; shut the door” type of thinking.
What about a church that has a good reputation but inside it is much different? Enter the church at Sardis (Revelation 3: 1-6). They had a name (a good reputation) in the community but were dead inside. This reputation said, “Look at us! We are active and caring” but according to Jesus they were dead inside. It seems to others they were alive, but to the One who knew and cared, not so. I’m not exactly sure what He means by “I have not found your deeds complete,” but it certainly wasn’t a good omen.
What I do know is Jesus was unhappy with the half-baked church. They were to repent or He would come when they least expected it.
Thank God for those few who remained faithful and refused to indulge in the fake pat-on-the-back and the self-aggrandizement of promoting themself “doing” but not “being.”
“Father, help me to be inside who I pretend to be on the outside. May the church I love and serve at be more interested in “being” than “doing.” And when we do, may it match who we are. ”
A good prayer to have on one’s list to repeat over an over. Help me not to be a pretender. Help me be a member of Christ’s body that stays connected and is content with being. If I am supposed to be the hands and feet… I am pretty useless if I have severed myself from the body and Head.
That is so essential of a prayer Ryan. I especially liked that last part: I”m pretty useless if I have severed myself from the body and Head.
May we be true to our faith that we become a light to others, Bill.
Blessings!
Exactly Martha. That is the only way.
Father, help not only my church to be true to your word, and to reach out to the community, but also help me to follow in those footsteps and be true to the word and my own actions out in the community. Help me to represent a caring and loving church that always stands together for the scripture. We don’t compromise Gods truths, but we welcome everyone to come and learn the from the bible.
That needs to be the prayer I would love to have everyone pray Gail. Thanks for voicing it.