When
a local congregation of the Lord’s people grows, hopefully
all are thrilled about it. Growth that is based on
bringing others into the fellowship of a local church need
to be an ongoing thing. Of course, the methods used to “bring
them in” is important. Paul told the Corinthians he had
laid the only foundation on which the church is built, but
warned, “If any man builds on this foundation using
gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work
will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring
it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire
will test the quality of each man's work” (1 Cor.
3:12-13)..
God’s
people must grow by scriptural methods, else growth is
valueless. To grow by scriptural means means nothing may
be offered except the plain and simple Gospel of Jesus
Christ and pattern the Lord has given in his divine
instruction and apostolic precedent. Our work and worship
is unquestionably sound and scriptural when we recognize
and honor the teaching of Christ and his apostles as our
pattern in all things. We mustl “build all things
according to the pattern” (Heb. 8:5).
Sometimes,
after a period of growth, there is a tendency to let down
and enjoy a “status quo.” This is a mistake. Nothing
should stand in the way of a continued work of faith and
labor of love. Keep the spirit alive that caused growth.
Don’t let it flag or die.
When
little things become big things, when minor issues are
elevated to major issues, the spirit of working together
will suffer. I have known congregations that after a
period of growth such as ours who became less and less
interested in an outward reach and turned inward. Things
sometimes get to the point that some are more concerned
about the inward activities of the church than they are
the great battle we face from without.
This
is not said to minimize internal purity and soundness. It
is just an observation that when unnecessary criticism and
a “watch dog” attitude develops internally over
personalities and minor issues, growth will certainly be
impeded. So, then let us put insignificant things away
from us, learn to tolerate and love one another as
brethren and do what Paul wanted the Philippians to do.