In his book called “The Jesus Style”, Gayle D. Erwin has a chapter titled “I’d Rather See a Sermon.” Gayle mentions a time when his family was lost and needed someone to guide them to their destination. I remember a time in my life when I found myself in the very same situation. I had just been transferred to a new Navy base in New Orleans, Louisiana. And during my first visit I found myself lost at night in the New Orleans downtown district. Most of the stores were closed, and the few gas stations I found had bars on the windows. The attendants tried to give me directions through the glass windows, but I could not find my way out of the city. Finally, several hours later, I met a man who was delivering newspapers to local hotels. Do they even do that anymore? But he told me to follow him, and he led me to my destination. He was like a bright and shinning start to me that day, for I was lost, and he helped me find my way.
A good leader is someone who not only talks the talk but walks the walk. They are willing to roll up their sleeves and lead by example. The same is true for good Christian leaders. As you work with your church family, do you ask them to do something you have never done or are unwilling to do yourself? Will you sweep the floor or is that below you? Do you need a title, a parking space or special clothing to show your place of honor?
In Matthew 23 Jesus told his disciples and the crowd to obey their religious leaders, but don’t do like they do. For they do not practice what they preach. They make it hard on others and never offer to help them with their heavy load. Jesus’ approach was totally opposite. He said, “come follow me” and I’ll make you fishers of men. I’ll not only teach you, but I’ll demonstrate it to you.
While we can all point fingers at poor church leadership. We must also recognize our role. One thing to remember from Matthew 23 is that Jesus doesn’t say you don’t have to obey just because you have bad leaders. Excuses will not lessen our responsibility to become what God designed us to be.
Another thought to remember is that Christians are to be the light of the world, and the salt of the earth. How can a light be of any good if it is hidden under a basket. Or how can salt be of any use if it has lost its saltiness? If your light falls under the pew and never gets outside the building what good is it? Isn’t that like the leaders who refuse to lift a finger to help the lost?
Do you know what the best way is to teach your children to follow in the footsteps of Jesus is? It’s to let them see you on your knees in prayer to God as you hold their hand. To carry them with you, when possible, to see the sick. To work beside you in a homeless shelter. You can tell them all you want about it but letting them “see” the sermon is so much more powerful.
As I close, let me ask, could this be the problem with the church today? Could it be that we preach some very good sermons, and teach some awesome bible classes, but all along make it harder for those to come to know God because we refuse to lift a finger to help them. Have our assemblies become more important than our involvement? And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.
