By Lloyd Streeter
Every now and then, you will hear a preacher or individual church member say, “We have so many members (and they cite a figure), but we have only (and they cite another figure) who are active church members.” What do they mean by “active church members”?
Are you an active church member? Usually when this term is used, people mean that “active” members attend and give regularly to support the church. It is sad indeed that Christians must be delineated in such a way. Some come to Sunday school and they are considered “active.” Some come to Sunday school and morning church service, and they are said to be “active.” Some come to all the services of the church, Sunday school, morning church service, evening service, and Wednesday night service, and they are considered “active.” Perhaps the word “active” is not a very good word to describe a person’s loyalty to Christ.
There was a preacher who, when asked, “How many members do you have?” answered, “about 500.” When asked, “How many of them are active?” he replied, “all 500.” When pressed for an explanation, he said, “About 250 are active for the Lord and the other 250 are active for the devil.” Everybody is active somewhere on Sunday morning. If you are not active for the Lord, then you are actively engaged in recreational activity or some other pursuit.
The word ACTIVE is not a Bible word. The New Testament did not speak of Christians as “active” or ‘inactive” in the Lord’s work. However, we do read that Bible Christians “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). And, in I Corinthians 4:2, we find these significant words, “it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
FAITHFULNESS, according to God’s Word, is not optional, it is required. “But,” you ask, “how much faithfulness is required in order to be considered an active member?” Well, would we expect less in God’s work than we would in other lines of endeavor?
If your automobile starts four times out of five (that’s 80% of the time), would you say it was “faithful” in starting? If your watch ran 23 out of every 24 hours, would you say it was a “faithful” watch? If your doctor diagnosed your case correctly 9 out of 10 times, and your druggist fills your prescription right 9 out of 10 times, would you say they were “faithful”? After all, they were unfaithful 10% of the time! We could go on with other examples but this should prove the point.
And yet many church members who attend if they have nothing “better” to do would be deeply (and bitterly) offended if you were to suggest that they were not fine, active members. Why is it that we gauge our faithfulness to Christ and His church by a different standard (and a lower one at that) than we do other things and people upon which we depend? Think it over. Are you a FAITHFUL member?
[From The Baptist Trumpet, Pastor Lloyd Streeter, First Baptist Church, Cass City, MI January, 1974]