OBSTACLES TO INDIVIDUAL AND CHURCH GROWTH
PART 2
1 PETER 2:9-15
INTRODUCTION: Last week we considered three obstacles that hinder Christian growth. Today I want to examine another pair of obstacles that impede individual and corporate growth and spiritual development – Pacifism and Passivism. Both of these can be serious stumbling blocks to our progress as members of the Body of Christ. If we are to grow both need to be eliminated from of our lives and our church.
I. Pacifism - Attitude of appeasement and avoidance of conflict at any cost - Compromise
A. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you may show forth the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
B. 2 Timothy 2:4 No one who wars tangles with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who chose him to be a soldier.
C. The motivation of the believer ought to be first, last, always to please God.
D. Many churches today are not unlike the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3. The Laodicean Church compromised on every possible level so as to be acceptable to the world around it. It had great wealth and claimed to be open-minded.
E. For many, today, Biblical standards have fallen as worldliness has tarnished the church and its message by church seeking to be “sensitive”, “user friendly” and “non-threatening” to the world.
F. Perhaps one of the best and saddest examples of pacification is that of Lot in Genesis 19 where he hoped to win his neighbors, and to persuade them from pursuing their unnatural homosexual actions against the messengers of God by offering his two daughters to the Sodomites. Listen to his words in verses 7 and 8, “Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof." It should be noted that his attempts were futile. Read verse 9!
G. Joseph Lewis Preston, of the Free Thinkers of America, told an Associated Press reporter, “Organized interest in atheism has lagged because the opposition isn’t as strong as it used to be. There has been considerable liberalizing of religion and the lines of conflict aren’t nearly as strong.” Charles Smith, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Atheism, reported that the lack of opposition was the cause of the decline of atheism. “We don’t have the old repressive religion that stimulates atheism, and they don’t preach hell-fire and Jonah in the whale anymore. They go in for this cheer-them-up religion. That’s not the old-time religion. It may be that this new sort is not so bad but they don’t let it interfere with their lives. They spent more time in the old days pleasing God. Now they try to please their fellow men.” – Excerpt from Back to Bethel by J. Vernon McGee, quoted in “Thru the Bible Radio” (Pasadena, June 1996).
H. The church will never be acceptable to the world as long as it stands upon God’s Word as light and salt for the truth. When the church ceases to be light and salt it ceases to be the church.
I. The early 1st century Christian were offered their lives if they would but cast a touch of incense on the fire that burned before the image of the Emperor. A very small gesture of political support compared with being fed to the loins or being burned at the stake. They could have argued that they could do more good by living than by dying. "He who fights and runs away, will live to fight another day. Better a live dog than a dead loin." But, when men catch a glimpse of the face of God, they do not fear the face of man! - W. A. Criswell
J. Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade (seek the favor of) men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
K. Paul makes it clear that his object in life is God’s approval and not man’s. A man who lives to please people by making their approval of more importance than God’s is not serving God. Regardless of what we do or where we do it our goal should be to please God.
L. Ephesians 6:5-6 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eye service, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
M. When an individual or a congregation has the attitude of compromise in regard to spiritual values and truths, dark days are ahead. All who strive to be Christians feel a certain amount of pressure from the world. Through the strength that Christ gives, we can overcome the world and its temptations. A man starting a fish business put out his sign that read, "Fresh Fish For Sale Today" and invited all to visit his place of business on opening day. Many came and congratulated him on his new business, but one suggested that he change his sign. "Why the ’Today’? It is today." So he removed the "Today". Someone else said, "Why, ’For Sale’? Everybody knows you have fish for sale-or else why the store?" The words "For Sale" came off the sign. Another said, "Why the word ’Fresh’? You are a man of integrity, that guarantees your fish to be fresh." "Fresh" came off the sign. Only one word was left, "Fish" and one complained about it. "I smelled your fish two blocks away." The individual or congregation that tries to satisfy everybody ends up by pleasing nobody. If we start compromising, we will end up serving the devil. The man should have put up his sign and then stood by it. This is what we are to do in life. Accept God’s will for our lives and stand on His promises. - copied
II. Passivism - Inaction, lacking energy or will
A. Ecclesiastes 10:18 By slothfulness the building decays; and through lowering of the hands the house leaks.
B. What is true in the natural realm is also true in the spiritual. When we neglect the maintenance, upkeep, and improvement of our homes they deteriorate. Neglect in the church leads to spiritual decay. Neglect of prayer erodes power. Neglect of Bible study leads to spiritual dwarfism. Neglect of fellowship leads to indifference. Neglect of witnessing leads to a declining enrollment.
C. One of the problems of idleness is that it is contagious. Temporarily absent from home, Captain Webster left Daniel and his brother Ezekiel with specific instructions as to the work they were to do that day. On his return he found the task still unperformed, and questioned them about their idleness. "What have you been doing, Ezekiel?" he asked. "Nothing, sir." "Well, Daniel, what have you been doing?" "Helping Zeke, sir."
D. 1 Timothy 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
E. According to Christian writer Gaylon Embrey, “Football not withstanding, America’s favorite spectator sport has to be 20th Century Christianity… Modern Christianity can be considered a "sport" because it is looked upon, entered into and engaged in with such a lighthearted attitude. There is a semblance of seriousness surrounding it to be sure, but there is also fun for all. It can be considered a sport of the spectator variety because for the most part its members are onlookers rather than participants. It has accurately been described as "balcony Christianity." Many professed Christians, you see, only "attend" public worship services. They attend much in the same way they attend any other performance, as spectators. In this case there is a production by the Preacher, who is the star of the show, and perhaps a special presentation by the music department. The attending members enjoy the performance, pay their money, go home and forget it.” The problem is that Christianity is not a spectator sport. Every believer is supposed to be on the field of play.
F. The finances and responsibilities of most ministries and churches are usually dependent on the few who count it a privilege to serve the Lord. Today, the majority is in the “grandstands” -- just watching rather than enjoying the satisfaction of serving the Lord. – SBC Bible Pathways Devotional, Numbers 3-4, Copyright © 1999-2004, Southern Baptist Convention.
G. Luke 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, OCCUPY (busy oneself) till I come.
H. Matthew 28:19-20 GO ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
I. Galatians 5:13 ...by love SERVE one another.
J. 1 Timothy 6:12 FIGHT the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
K. "Occupy – Go – Serve – Fight" - All are action verbs. We have never been called to inactivity.
L. On this side of the grave, there is no retirement from serving God or ministering to others.
M. Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Church, in the Purpose Driven Life states “if you’re going to be like Jesus it means you’re going to serve as long as you’re alive. Now you may retire from your job someday, but you’re never retiring from ministry. You’re never retiring from service. Because God wants you to serve the rest of your life.”
N. Romans 10:12-14 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
O. The church has been entrusted with the greatest message in the universe – the message that God loves us enough to grant to man eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. But if we don’t deliver the message what good is it?
P. Another word for passivism is indifference. "Love will find a way - indifference will find an excuse." Are you making excuses or are you saying, "Here I am Lord, I’ll go, do, and be whatever You want. Use me."
