“Pew Sitters”
Ezekiel 34:1-22
Introduction: I want to begin today by quoting the old Gospel Evangelist, Sam Jones. He used to get in the pulpit and tell his congregation that he was running a Gospel Shoe Establishment. That is, he just laid the shoes out there and told the people, “if the shoe fits, wear it.”
So today, I’m gonna just lay the shoes out there, and if the shoe fits, wear it.
There is an old song my mom used to sing. It is called, “My House Is Full, But My Field Is Empty.”
SONG TEXT: There is peace and contentment in my Father’s house today, Lots of food on His table and no one turned away. There is singing and laughter as the hours pass by, But a hush calms the singing as the Father sadly cries, My house is full, but my field is empty, Who will go and work for Me today. It seems my children want to stay around my table, But no one wants to work my field.
That song expresses the same reality that I want to address today. And that is that there are entirely too many Christians who come to church to get something, but when it comes to serving the Father, there is nothing being done. Those Christians are what I call Pew-Sitters.
Pew-Sitters are those who come to church (that’s good), but all they do is sit and soak. (Soak in the goodness of God’s Word and the goodness of fellowship).
Transition: This was the kind of problem the Children of Israel were experiencing in our text for today. Everyone took care of themselves but when it came to KINGDOM BUILDING, their attitude was that of neglect and disregard.
(Read vss. 1-4b, 8-10a, 15-16, 23-24)
Background: This passage was originally written as a condemnation of the PRIESTS of Israel. They were the shepherds of the people of Israel and instead of shepherding the people, they sat back and took care of themselves.
Drawing a Parallel: Be very careful this morning not to misunderstand the application of this passage. There may be a TENDENCY to interpret this passage as applicable ONLY to those in priestly, pastoral, or shepherding positions. And THAT is the primary reason so many Christians are not living up to their COMMISSIONED RESPONSIBILITY. “Witnessing is for the pastor,” they say.
What we need to understand today is that when each of us becomes a Christian, we all take on the responsibility of a KINGDOM BUILDING PRIEST.
Originally, the people of Israel were given this responsibility. Exodus 19:6 says, “you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” After Christ, this responsibility was passed on to us. 1 Peter 2:5 says, “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
(Transition to text)
I. Two Words Describe the Shepherds
A. Neglect
1. The shepherds neglected their duty.
2. They were supposed to feed the flock, strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bandage the injured, bring back the strays and search for the lost but they DID NOT DO IT. They were more concerned about their own well being.
B. Disregard
The sheep didn’t care about anyone else. As they would graze, they would trample down the good grass for others. As they would drink from the clear water, they would muddy it up so it wasn’t as refreshing for others. All they could see were themselves. Nothing else mattered.
II. Did you know that these two words also describe today’s Pew-Sitters?
A. Neglect
1. Ministry
People are hurting, weak, sick, lost, abandoned, discouraged, and Pew-Sitters go to church, sing their songs and go about THEIR business rather than the Father’s business.
2. Evangelism
Matthew 9:37 -- “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.”
Illustration: When it comes to evangelism, many Pew-Sitters are like the little girl who was playing in the kitchen one day, when her mother told her to come and help do the dishes. The little girl continued to play. The mother again told the young girl to come help with the dishes. Again the girl ignored her. Finally, the mother said, “Didn’t you hear me? I said, ‘Come help with the dishes.’ To which the little girl replied, “Oh, I heard you. I’m just not doing what you said.”
How many times is the Lord treated this way? Pew-Sitters hear His Great Commission LOUD AND CLEAR, they just don’t want to do it.
B. Disregard
1. Pew-Sitters sit at the Father’s table and feast and then refuse to go out and share the Gospel.
2. The primary concern of a Pew-Sitter is SELF and he or she has no regard for anyone else. As long as they’re saved....that’s all that matters to them.
Pew Sitters disregard everyone but themselves and this leads them to the neglect their COMMISSIONED RESPONSIBILITY.
III. What was the penalty?
A. “Held accountable....removed them from tending....”(v.10)
Will the Father come to a church that is filled with Pew-Sitters, those who live in disregard and neglect and take away His gifts, His spirit, and His power and put them where they can be used? I believe he will.
B. “Judge between strong (selfish) and weak (unselfish) sheep” (v. 20)
Will the Father come to a church that is filled with Pew-Sitters, who are not sharing with others what he has shared with them and take away his gifts, and his power and put them where they can be used? I believe he will.
Revelation 2:5 (Church at Ephesus) — “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”
They had abandoned their first love.
Without love they lost their effectiveness.
And the Lord threatened to remove their lampstand.
IV. Conclusion: All of that said, how should we respond to God’s Word today?
A. First, we are to do the things that the priests/shepherds of our text neglected.
1. Feed the flock (DISCIPLESHIP, “make disciples”)
2. Strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bandage the injured. (MINISTRY)
3. Search for the lost (EVANGELISM)
4. Bring back the strays (RECLAIM our wayward Sheep)
The shoe may fit this morning.
What I want you to understand as we enter into a time of invitation is that the Lord doesn’t want you to wear shoes that are uncomfortable. He simply wants you to perform your COMMISSIONED RESPONSIBILITY and you know what? He will PROVED the shoes that are necessary to perform the task.
