We know that many Baptists are beginning to go along with the Protestant doctrine that all the saved make up the Lord's church. This idea is called "the universal church" doctrine. It is false, having no support in the Scriptures. If the Lord's church is composed of only a limited number of the saved, for we are sure that many are saved who have never become a part of the church, then who are those who make up the church?

Such an idea sounds bigoted to many people. Not being very serious about their faith or their obedience they resent having someone suggest that one is not a part of the Lord's church just because he is saved. We want to be serious about it. Were people saved in Old Testament days, before Jesus came to earth? Yes, but did they all belong to the nation of Israel? No! Men were saved all the way back to the first man but this was not enough. If one is serious about his relationship with the Lord he will want to please Him with his life. His thinking and actions will have to be brought into harmony with the revealed will of God. Under that old system there was a very intelligent and very zealous man who was sure he ought to do things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 26:9). In other words he was sincere.

Have we confused the difference between being serious and being sincere? Saul of Tarsus, the man we speak of, was very sincere and would have strongly told you he was serious about his faith. The fact that he went about trying to kill those who believed in Jesus shows just how serious (sincere) he was. But he was very wrong and this he confesses. When he was brought, almost by surprise, into God's saving grace, there was a difference in his attitude which was not there before. He called himself the least of the saints, even less than the least (Ephesians 3:8).

In time he could honestly refer to himself as the chief of sinners. He saw his lost condition as he looked back on it as so bad until no other language would do to describe it. Then he tells us that God picked such a sinner to make known God's mercy (1 Timothy 1:15, 16). No other man could illustrate that mercy so well. He felt he was the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because he persecuted the church of God (1 Corinthians 15:9). In all of this, before God's grace turned him around, he "verily thought that he ought" to do it (Acts 26:9). Yes, he was serious, but wrong. So should we be serious about our position? I feel sure the correct answer to this is Yes. We need to learn just what a right seriousness includes.

How to Be Serious
The Pharisees were all very serious, just as Saul, the Pharisee, had been. They took a dogmatic stand on performing the details of the law of God. Were these details "minor things" which should not have been noted? They were considering the correct God and they gave lip service to the right teachings (Matthew 23:2,3). The problem was not that their doctrines were wrong. Jesus bade men observe the things the Pharisees said do, but warned them not to do the things the Pharisees did. In other words, those Pharisees were hypocrites because they taught what was right but did not practice it. If one does not practice what he preaches who can count him serious?

This principle holds today. Individuals and churches are often very zealous for the doctrines but their practice denies that they believe it applies to themselves. Slackening up in our stand on the doctrines is not the way to remedy this inconsistency. We need to become sincere about doing those things which the doctrines teach us.

I fear for some of us who are Missionary Baptists. We believe we have the Truth. We insist we believe and teach the very things which Jesus and the apostles believed and taught. In fact, we can become very obstreperous in our insistence on the correctness of our doctrines. What do you think? Is it possible we may be Pharisaical about this? Jesus did not lash out at the Pharisees at first, evidently because so many of their teachings were the very Word of God. But in time their attitude, their spirit, was such as would destroy Him and His ministry if possible.

It is in this area that "letting up" is needful. We are not to back away from the true doctrines. But we must allow those teachings to become truth in our hearts and lives. How do we do this? It must be by a proper consideration of the fact that what we preach to others ought to be applied first to ourselves. We see all sorts of attitudes among preachers and churches.

One feels that doctrine is the all important consideration and fails to give consideration to whether it has first wrought a sanctifying influence in his own life. The Word makes the life clean (John 15:3; Ephesians 5:16). If our lives are not allowing the washing and sanctifying effect of the words we are preaching, either we have the wrong words (doctrines) or we are not allowing the True Words of God to apply to ourselves. This last is hypocrisy. Sinners will despise us and what we teach if we do not allow it to influence our own lives consistently.

In other words, we give occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme (2 Samuel 12:14). The sin of David relative to Uriah and Bathsheba followed him all of the days of his life. David did repent of his sins but the measure of evil in his deeds was so great until the influence of it for evil went on in his family and his kingdom for many years.

Are You Serious With the Lord?
Sad to say, many of those who have trusted the Lord and joined the church are not very serious. At the time they did what they thought was right - they were sincere - but their feelings then were of their own eternal destiny. If they trusted Jesus indeed, it was because they were brought in desperation to do so to escape the guilt of conviction and the punishment of hell.

Being taught in some way that this was all they needed to do they joined the church and soon became comfortable in attending the services when convenient. They read their Bibles occasionally, for a while, or they may be one of those who learned these mediocre ways of serving the Lord and have continued through the years in a formal way, doing the outward things which church members are supposed to do. They may even have taken a part in the services, singing, maybe even leading in prayer at church.

There are various degrees of application to the busyness of Christian service. If some emergency comes along which threatens the life of the individual or some family member or close person he thinks to pray. He may even have been taught while young to pray before meals and he will do this if all is convenient at the time.

Is this being serious with the Lord? Many will feel they have done what they could and may even question whether God would require more. It seems to me this is not being serious. The whole focus of the life is on one's own comfort, convenience, or reputation, or possibly his keeping up with standards of his family or those around him.

God expects us to give our lives into His hands when we trust Him to save us. There is no question but that His mercy is sufficient and His grace is given without stint. Still, there is a severe lack in our lives. As the days come and go spiritual matters claim very little attention. A lot of what is admirable in our actions is habit or form. We would say, "His heart is not in it." Such a life calls for a revival every so often. We all tend downward in our spiritual lives and must be constantly renewed. Most people would never consider that there is a means for a constant building up of his spiritual strength, a constant adding to his spiritual sensibilities, which would eliminate the need for an annual revival.

Daily Bible reading, even hourly prayer, constant prayer (pray without ceasing"), and consistent practice of the principles of humility, love, forgiveness, witnessing, and all Christian graces, will build up the life. This comes not by putting the flesh to rigor to obey commandments but by devotion to the Person of the Lord and a regular relationship with His body, the church.

In short, a life filled with worship is a life which will continue spiritually strong. By worship we do not confine ourselves by any means to the formal worship of the church services. One who is close to the Lord will see His hand in the beauties of nature, in the song of the bird, in the weather. It will be obvious in the love of family and friends, but specially in the relationship with Christian brethren.

The attitude of the world tends to disparage such a life. One who is devoted to his church is called a "holy Joe," or a "goody two shoes," or is said to make a fool of himself about religion. The habits and language of the man of the world - and this includes a majority of church members - is one which considers fun or entertainment to be the very essence of good. The self is more important than anything else. We plan our living with this in mind. We take vacations with this in mind. This is why it is so easy to skip church when something involving self seems to claim the attention.

A Modern Example of Self-Serving
The Lord's church is an example of heaven's wisdom to meet human needs for God's glory in an age of increasing sin. Israel had been provided full instructions, miraculous deliverances, extensive promises, regular forms and beautiful reminders for worship, yet Israel chose to join with their pagan neighbors in their lifestyles and in their religion.

God cut them off from their special place. No longer could they experience the deliverances or view the forms of worship. The promises seem remote. How could they sing the songs of Zion in a strange land (Psalm 137:3,4)? They brought this situation upon themselves and were deprived of its beauty, its instruction, and specially its joys when carried away captive.

God raised up the church. That remnant in Israel which had remembered Him in seriousness became the nucleus and Jesus chose from among such to form His church. John the Baptist had presented the formula for identifying with God against the majority who were so busy in pleasing themselves:

"Repent and be baptized." The repentance was a turning of the heart away from the things which only pleased self and to the Lord alone. The baptism was a mark to show that these repentant ones were dead to their old self-pleasing and looking to the Lord alone.

Jesus showed those disciples His own serious devotion to the Father. He taught them the standard for discipleship. He prayed that they might be one with Him as He was one with the Father. He warned them of the consequences of failing to bear fruit. He explained to them that they must abide, continue, not turn back, walk humbly, take up the cross daily. If a preacher today speaks of faithfulness of this kind someone says he is preaching salvation by works. It is not by works; it is by faith. The first step was taken in faith. Every step thereafter must be taken in faith. A faith, however, which does not work is dead.

The church, then, provides the pattern, the encouragement, even the methods for such a walk in faith. Or she is supposed to do so. However, just as in ancient Israel the shepherds of God's flocks were as self-seeking as the people and lowered the standards of righteousness for themselves and for the people in order to keep their positions, so today we see the lowering of standards and the changing of methods so that the pastors (shepherds) can keep their jobs. Instead of feeding the flock God's true Word they are feeding them on a modified diet, mixing some elements of the Word with psychology, or entertainment, with all manner of man pleasing.

The people have itching ears so they call pastors who will preach what they want to hear. Pastors are largely spineless. They may know that they are compromising God's principles, but if they do they do not have the holy boldness to lead the people into the practice of the Truth. They allow the people to do things for the sake of "peace" and "harmony" which do not preserve the spirit of Christ in the flock and do not build spiritual strength into the church membership. Peace and harmony built on such compromise is like the negotiated settlements of the political world: they may not last very long. Lacking a true spirit of Christ the churches become more and more like t he world.

Churches are the agencies of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, to administer God's righteous will in the lives of the membership. Every member is to be a party to those practices which preserve the spiritual lives of all the members of the body. We all need encouragement at times. Even the preacher needs to be helped up at times, encouraged, appreciated. If he is God's man and following Him as he should he will be happy to see the fruits of God's Word being produced in the lives of his flock. He will take such progress as a sign that God is pleased with his ministry. If he sees little or no such fruit he may become discouraged. This may result in his becoming more harsh than is wise or even in his leaving that ministry.

Brethren of the church, according to our covenant, are to watch over one another in brotherly love. I know of no better way to explain this expression than by the attitude of a baby sitter for young children. She guards them against danger, shows them profitable ways to preserve their interest and keep them happy. By no means will she allow her charge to wander off where he might get hurt or lost. Such watching over one another is the responsibility of every church member.

Yes, this seems offensive in this day when we keep secret every phase of our lives which might seem to put us in a bad light. At least Christians seem this way. Lost men could care less if they are rowdy, noisy, or inconsiderate. They do not care for their trash or garbage and may throw it on your lawn. They drink or smoke in full view. They expose their nakedness and perform their lewd ways right before the world.

Have not church members gained the same unholy attitudes and ways? Let a more zealous or loving brother try to admonish one about such matters, even a pastor, and men are offended. They feel he has quit preaching and gone to meddling. They seem not to know that references to such outward things are necessary to call attention to trends which reflect a neglect of the Lord, a spirit of backsliding. Leaving off smoking and drinking is not spiritual. Wearing decent clothing and abstaining from the excesses of language or actions is not spiritual either. Those things are only fruits of a coldness which needs a remedy. When the heart is cold, however, people tend to resent any interference from others.

So what does the conscientious brother do? Does he practice good psychology and abstain from doing or saying anything which might hurt the feelings of the observed offender? That seems to be the practice today. There is no question but that the good brother must be patient, kind, loving, and considerate. The individual case will doubtless provide varying approaches to the situation. The conscientious baby sitter, however, will not stop to consider whether her charge will like it or not when she grabs him, even roughly, from the oncoming vehicle which may crush out his life.

Is This the Business of a Church?
It most certainly is! Church discipline involves just such tactics. They are not merely a means of purging the church rolls of members who have shamed the Lord and the church by their careless or rebellious lives. It is a means of rescuing the one who is sliding back into the ways of the world.

Somebody objects: But suppose what I do drives him away? It may seem that it does. Remember that he is already "away," and you are trying to help bring him back. You will certainly need to pray for wisdom, love, patience, and tenderness in such dealings. Your efforts will not always be successful (Matthew 18:16).

You are then to enlist the aid of other devoted, patient, spiritual members whose language may accomplish what yours did not. What if that falls? Then, and not until then, is the matter to be exposed before the whole church. A rebellious member is further shamed when he knows his rebellion has come to the attention of the many. The two or three others may not succeed, in which case it goes before all.

The whole church prays and considers and admonishes the offender. The manner may be any of several ways. The personal contact is surely the best. It may have to be by writing. Even the whole church may fail. In this case the offender must be excluded from the church, not to be treated as an enemy but still the object of admonition (Matthew 18:17; 2 Thessalonians 3:15).

In this age when there often are several churches in an area a different strategy is too frequently seen. The offender decides to move his membership to another church. He may say he is sorry for his sin, but if he immediately moves his membership the church should know that his professed sorrow is not genuine. Repentance is lacking. The apology was only a strategy used to get a letter to transfer. The church in such a case should seriously consider NOT granting a letter in fellowship. The brother is not in fellowship with the Lord. He only wants to escape the pressure of those who cared. His move to another church was not a sincere desire to honor the Lord, but was a means of going his own way and avoiding repentance. Such an act defeats t he purpose of a church to prepare people for the Lord and enable them to qualify to reign with
Christ in the coming Kingdom.

I am aware that there may be times when the move came because the church had fallen away and the member was not truly rebellious, but wanted to go to a church where he could be one of a whole body and contribute what he could for the honor of the Lord. (All rules seem to have exceptions, and it takes a wise pastor to lead a church in such matters.) Before such a move, however, the conscientious brother will call to the attention of the church he belongs to that sin of some sort is being practiced, showing by the Scriptures that such could cause the removal of church status, as the removing of the candlestick from Ephesus (Revelation 2:5).

These efforts may bring repentance by the church, particularly if the brother who brings up such matters is a humble, conscientious and caring believer. But if there is rebellion and a majority insist on holding to sinful practices, or allowing such practices in the membership, then the caring brother has no other alternative but to find a Scriptural church. He may even have to relocate his place of residence.

Such things are evidence of the kind of seriousness I speak of. I do not mean to overlook the fact that some people by disposition are quiet and not outspoken. Some are timid and fearful of stirring the wrath of others. Such fears should warn us if we are like this that we need to pray for grace to have the courage to stand on the Truth. Words may not be necessary, but prayer, tears, and maybe a quiet talk with the pastor or some other humble brother about this backwardness. There are ways in which every brother may demonstrate that he is a caring (serious) member of the church.

On the other hand, one who only shows up occasionally for the services, one whose life at home and at work are marked by self-seeking, or careless or profane language, is not a serious Christian. He may have been saved. But if he does not show a delight in the Word of God, If the Word preached does not bless his heart so that the joy of the Lord shows in His face, he should be concerned and others should be concerned about him. It may be that he will respond to a caring approach. If not, then he likely will be more and more distant until he has to be excluded from the membership.

The Witness of A Serious Membership
Church members whose lives away from the church services are just like their lost neighbors provide no testimony to create an interest in spiritual things in those lost people. Even if, on occasion, such a weak member dutifully invites his neighbor to church, or even goes so far as to remind him that he ought to be a Christian, his testimony will be weak, particularly if that lost man remembers his taking a beer, appearing indecent at the beach or the supermarket, or his love for vile television.

Those mechanical moves which seem to fill so many church members' lives: going to church, engaging in churchly activities, even using God's name - these will all be indicted as insincere if not hypocritical by the observant lost man. Yes, a serious believer may develop some closeness to a lost man, but it is a dangerous place. He may impugn any good he intended.

Serious Christians do not depend upon the church services as the time and place to be serious. Yes, they will be serious there. They will sing, they will pray, they will contribute to the lesson. They will love and fellowship and enjoy the company of one another. But their faith goes home with them. It goes to work with them. It shows up when he goes to the polls to vote. It shows up in the way he walks, talks, dresses and takes his leisure. It shows in his relationship with his wife or her husband. It shows in the discipline of his children. It even shows in the life and mannerisms of those children. And it will show, in some degree, in their lives after they are married. If they are P.K.'s (preacher's kids) they may appear to be even more intransigent that the children of other Christians. Could be, but more likely they are just under closer scrutiny than others. Or it could be that the preacher was so busy working with other people until he neglected his family. If he is serious about pastoring he should remember that a man who does not have his own house under authority is unfit to pastor a church (1 Timothy 3:5).

Instead of depending on the periodic meetings of the church, instead of waiting until the pastor gets around to visit or talk to your neighbor, instead of any of those mechanical, ordinary things, why not show your neighbor you love him. You know his lost condition. You care for his family. The going into all the world of the great commission surely is to be carried out in these everyday contacts we make with those with whom we work or associate in some way, or with whom we come in contact in the ordinary activities of life.

We expect children to play games. They imitate their elders and this may be good insofar as it reflects an interest in things of life. But children are not mature, and not responsible. Consequently they may not always be able to handle certain situations as might be desirable. We expect different conduct from adults.

"And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? They are like unto children playing in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept." (Luke 7:32, 33)

This response was prompted by the refusal of the Pharisees to accept John's baptism when he was sent from God to prepare a people. He came neither eating nor drinking as other men and they said he had a devil. When Jesus came he both ate and drank as was the habit of men, so they accused him of being a glutton and a winebibber. Men are inclined to reject whatever is not contrived for their own pleasure or by themselves, not being careful to see that their accusations correctly reflect the facts. Such men are not serious with the Lord.

The children in the market place were divided on what or how they wanted to play. Some made music and merriment, desiring to have a "play" wedding. Some mourned as at a funeral, but others would not weep in response. This was the way of that generation and it is the way of our generation. How childish of us to desire to play only our own way or our own game and if others will not then we call them names.

If one only goes to church occasionally but when he does go he is inclined to pass judgment on the preacher or the church he manifests that he is not serious with the Lord but only with his- own interests. On the other hand if one diligently avoids any remarks about the Bible or doctrine or religion he obviously Is not serious with the Lord. Maybe this indifference is more honorable than attacking the diligent one, but both, attitudes are wrong. The burden of the pastor's heart is these members who only contribute their presence occasionally at services and put a few dollars in the offering. Why do they belong to the church at all? It is not likely to do them any good in the age to come insofar as reigning with Christ is concerned.

God wants us to be serious. He would have us give our whole life into His hands to be used in His way and in His place. No, this does not seem reasonable to the non-serious member, but then he does not have the same regard for the Lord. He is only thinking of what he is going to get out of it now. In truth, he does not get much and in the age to come will receive even less.