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In our nation today, multiplied millions of dollars are spent on the remodeling and reclaiming of old dilapidated areas in the inner cities.
Even in our own community we often see an old building being remodeled and made beautiful again to be used for family dwellings
or business offices. Who among us has not passed by some old home and thought that, if we had the money and time, we would like to
restore that building and make it useful again?
In our society some of the more valuable automobiles are antiques. Though they were manufactured many years ago, they have been
rebuilt and often restored to their original beauty. At times I have even thought of purchasing an old car and rebuilding it myself as
a hobby. But while some few such cars have been restored, most have been allowed to deteriorate until they are worth nothing more than
the price of scrap metal.
While it is sad to see an old dilapidated building or automobile, a far greater and sadder reality exists among the church members of
America. There are people who were once shining lights and in whose fellowship we rejoiced John 5:35), but now they are dimly lit. Some
no longer shine at all in the public worship of God. How sad, when you realize what they are missing and what the church is missing by
being denied the use of their God-given talents and abilities.
Some statistics indicate that as much as a third of the listed members of the churches of America are inactive. Such information should
be alarming to us because on the rolls of almost all churches, including our church, there are some members who never attend the worship
of God. This fact should concern each of us and hopefully burden some hearts deeply. Perhaps looking at this subject will motivate us
to do something about it.
If people are willing to spend huge sums of money and exhaust great energies to remodel old buildings or restore old cars, should not we
also be willing to spend and be spent (2 Cor. 12:15) in endeavoring to reactivate members and restore them to their former place of service?
While it is important to pray for God to add to the church (Acts 2:47) so that it may grow and prosper, we should also ask God to
help us in the important matter of member reclamation. By reactivating members at the same time that new members are being
added, the church is strengthened much more rapidly. Since a church usually loses some members by death and transfer of membership as
they move to new areas, it becomes more essential that we strive not to lose members through discontent and discouragement. What good
will it do a church to gain new members if it is losing members to inactivity? Numbers are not important on church rolls; they are
important on church pews, engaged in the worship of God (Luke 14:23). Something is wrong when churches have two or three times
as many members as the seating capacity of their sanctuary. Evidently they have either failed to be interested in inactive members or failed
in their efforts to reclaim them. In most cases the former of the two reasons is probably true. There is general apathy in Christianity today
toward those who have gone astray. Think about the level of your interest and involvement and then evaluate what you have done about
this matter in your church.
Mortals have long debated the question which Cain asked God, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Gen. 4:9). We should have no doubt
that God does expect us to be keepers of one another. The law of Christ is love John 15:12),and when we love each other as we should,
we will be genuinely concerned about the physical and spiritual welfare of each other. God speaking through Paul, said, "Brethren, if a man
be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted,
Bear ye one anothers' burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Gal. 6:1-2).This passage reveals a number of important facts which
apply to our study. (1) "If a man be overtaken in a fault" reveals what we all know, that people do make mistakes and we all do wrong at
times. The problem under consideration (inactivity) is a fault which deprives the church body of these members' fellowship in public
worship. (2) "Ye which are spiritual" indicates that some Christians have achieved a greater level of spiritual maturity than others. We
are taught the nature of such growth in 2 Peter 3: 18. Peter said to grow in both grace and knowledge. Some members remain carnal and
spiritually inactive and as such will have little or no effectiveness in dealing with delinquent members. If you remain carnal you will not
become a teacher of truth (Heb. 5:12)1for that you must be spiritual. (3) "Restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself,
lest thou also be tempted" says that we have a divinely appointed responsibility to those who fail in their responsibilities. It also tells
us that there is a right and wrong way to do the job, the right way being with meekness. If you visit inactive members in the wrong way,
your efforts are in vain. Be considerate of them, realizing that in different circumstances, the roles could be reversed (Mt. 26:22).
Therefore, treat them with the same love, compassion, kindness, and longsuffering that you would want to receive if you were in their
situation (Mt. 7:12). (4) "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" tells us to feel their burdens and help lift them
up through a Christ-like love, which is self-sacrificing on our part.
Now let us consider a few rules that can be helpful in reactivating members: (1) Visit them! Your visit should not merely be a social
visit, but a spiritual one, showing your concern for their spiritual welfare. Time spent together helps establish a bond upon which you
can build a fruitful relationship. (2)Be concerned! You should have a genuine concern for their spiritual welfare and happiness as well
as the prosperity of the church. If you are not really concerned, pray that God will help you to become that way. If you are not concerned,
you will not be persistent enough and they will quickly recognize your insincerity. Even children can detect whether or not you really care
about them. (3) Listen to them! I do not mean to remain silent and refuse to engage in conversation with them, but be willing to listen
- really listen - to them. Listen to their words, but also listen with your heart, to hear where the hurt comes from. Recognize that while
they are wrong in not attending, the church may also share in the wrong, perhaps in not having ministered to them in their hour of
need. Listen carefully (to discern the real problem) and prayerfully (to be able to help heal the wounds). (4)Be honest! If they are wrong,
don't sanction their sin, but let them know by the Word of God why they are wrong. You should also remember that how you speak to
them is important. If you are kind and loving, your honesty will help them, but if you are cutting and critical you may hurt more than
help. Remember that wounds of the heart as well as those of the flesh remain tender for a long time. In conclusion, let us consider some
scriptural guidelines. Heb. 10:23 tells us to hold fast and be faithful ourselves, Heb. 10:24 tells us that our objective is to help the person
serve God, and Heb. 10:25 tells us to love and support the worship assembly and then we can better encourage others to do so. When
these and other spiritual actions are exerted to reclaim the inactive members, statistics tell us that fifty percent can be activated with as
little as one visit. If your visit is unproductive, then either you have failed in your task or the person is in the half which will require more
love and labor on your part.
Our duty toward others is not limited to prayerful concern only, but to actions also Games 2:15-16). "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" Games 5:19-20). May we faithfully perform this task for the glory of God and the greater worship
of His Son Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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