MINISTRY OF MAINTENANCE IN THE FUNDAMENTAL CHURCH

Russ Moots, Chairman of the Education Department
russmoots@sfwbc.edu

         Barry and Rachel was a young couple that had recently accepted Christ as a result of a local fundamental church’s visitation program. They didn’t have a church background but they were eager to learn about the Christ they had just come to know and to learn more about living the Christian life. Rachel was immediately enlisted into the ladies visitation program and Barry was approached by the bus minister to drive a bus on Sunday.  Barry and Rachel were happy in their new Christian life and were looking forward to a joyful fulfilling life together. The bus captain that Larry drove for on Sundays was continually dissatisfied with one thing or another in the church and commented freely to Barry.  After Barry had been driving the bus for two months the bus captain decided to give up the route. The bus director immediately asked Barry to take over as captain, temporarily of course.  So as Larry began to spend more and more time on the bus route, Rachel became more and more dissatisfied at home. The Saturdays that were once spent together were now spent apart. As Rachel became more dissatisfied Barry became more discouraged.  Ten months after Barry and Rachel’s decision for salvation Barry gave up his bus route and he and Rachel stopped attending church.

       James was a 16 year old boy that attended a fundamental church’s youth rally. After attending further youth activities and the teen Sunday school class for two months James accepted Christ as his Savior. After James got saved he continued to attend the church’s teen activities and  appeared to be growing in the Lord but never really fit in. James then began to miss Wednesday night services, but always for a good cause. He then stopped attending Sunday night and eventually Sunday morning. It was then discovered by one of the teen workers that James was involved in the same sin he had a problem with before he got saved and was back among the same old friends.

         Mrs. White had been a faithful worker in the teen department of the fundamental church for over twenty years. Because of her age and some debilitating health problems she was not able to serve in that capacity any longer. Mrs. White had taught most of the adults in the church while they were growing up and still prayed for them regularly. As Mrs. White’s health got worse she was no longer able to go to church. Mrs. White would sit at home alone, reminiscing about those that had gone through her Sunday school class and wonder if her work had been in vain, for she was always alone.

      How many of you know Christians who once walked with the Lord but are now in one of the situations just mentioned?  Fundamental churches have done a good job of evangelizing the people, but in many instances have done a poor job in meeting the needs of the people. How many of you know a believer who has a need that is not being meet?  The roles of evangelical churches are swelling with members who “couldn’t make it” in our fundamental churches. Most of us are aware of a Christian who needs spiritual, loving restoration. As members of God’s family we must attempt to help these people. We must be more concerned about those that are dropping by the wayside.

            The best way to help people in their Christian lives is to help them grow as Christians. To become grounded in their faith. If we are diligent in this aspect of the ministry the need for reclamation will diminish. Many of our fundamental churches are falling short in teaching the people. We are so concerned about going out and reaching the unsaved, and we must do that, evangelism not optional, that we are neglecting the feeding of those already in the family. We are commanded to draw in the nets but fish left in the net will rot and be of no good to anyone. There must be teaching and grounding if the church is going to remain stable. We must also minister to the needs of the people, both those still in the church and those that have fallen by the wayside.

          Let’s look at what the Scripture teaches about this responsibility.  Acts 20:28 says, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God.”  This was not just for the church at Ephesus and it was not just for the pastor, there is an important principle here for all Christians. Look also in Romans chapter 12. This passage is a guide to Godly behavior and conduct. In verse 10, “ Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another;” and in verses13-16, “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not the high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.” In this passage Paul is encouraging us to share in the needs of others through acts of kindness and friendship.

        Now let’s look at the cases already mentioned and make some applications. In the first case Barry and Rachel are living an unproductive Christian life. There is not the evidence of blatant sin just a coldness spiritually.  As we see in Galatians  6:1,2, Paul says we are to restore the person in a spirit of gentleness. We have to remember that the spiritual person is not without blemish but rather living in dependance of the Holy Spirit. We need to reach out to the believer that has erred and direct them back to the Lord. Paul says, “bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” When we help carry the loads of life that oppress and depress other believers we facilitate their restoration in Christian love.

           Now let’s look at the situation with James. James is one who has strayed from the truth and has willfully turned away from the teachings of the Scripture. This person is struggling in the darkness of sin and most likely will not find his way out without the help of a concerned Christian. This person needs another believer who will lovingly guide him back to the light of God’s truth. Many times the reason young converts in our churches turn back to their old way of life is because they are never accepted in our churches. For example, a teenager saved off of a bus route is seldom accepted by the young people who grew up in the church. These converts, unfortunately, are rarely accepted by the teenagers that attend the church’s Christian school. It is difficult to accept the teachings of a church that is not responsive to the basic need of fellowship. Let’s look at James chapter 5 and verses 19-20, “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”  The one who guides this person back  to the light saves him “from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” This may save the erring believer not only from spiritual harm but possibly from physical harm. James teaches that the sinning believer can be moved back to the road toward holiness by a Christian who cares enough to get involved.

            Now let’s look at the case of Mrs. White. She is not guilty of dropping out or returning to a life of sin. Mrs. White suffers from the dreaded condition of need. I John 3 gives us valuable instruction as to our part in this person’s life. Verses 17 and 18 of this chapter tells us that if we have within our abilities the capacity to help one in need we are commanded to do so. Genuine Christian love does all in its power to rejuvenate the weak, uplift the downcast, heal the wounded, and provide for the needy. False love says that these things should be done, but it never gets around to doing them. The old saying “out of sight, out of mind,” is what happens  in our churches many times, but this is unfortunate and should not be. The church must be conscious of the needs of people, even when they are not obvious.

           Much has been said about the responsibility of the church in this matter of meeting the needs of the people but we must remember what the “church” is. The church is Christians, people with a responsibility to carry out the work of the Lord. The church is not some abstract all sufficient organism. The “church” is unable to accomplish anything aside from the believers willing to seek out and meet the needs of people.

            Fulfillment in the Christian life, real joy, comes from seeing others, whose lives we have touched, living a successful life for the Lord.