“GLORY OF THE LOCAL”
What a joy it is to be associated with a local work. One builds their personal faith and trust in God. As they build it, they are able to share it with fellow Christians who are, likewise, striving to become strong spiritually. We encourage each other to be a part of the assembly (Hebrews 10:25). We deal with individual problems and settle them by going to each other in a Christ-like spirit (Matthew 18:15). When we find brethren who are becoming weak spiritually, we make every effort to bring them back to spiritual strength (Galatians 6:1). We are a family striving together to reach “heaven’s shore”.
God’s plan was for each local congregation of His children to work together in order to expand the kingdom of God. We can either teach publicly, privately or by the example of our lives. We use our lives to show to the world, the person of Jesus the Christ. The love we show to each other in this family style unit provides proof to the world that we are indeed the disciples of the Lord Christ (John 13:35). We form friendships that can last a lifetime. There are so many other blessings that we cannot number which arise because we are in Christ with other Christians.
There are those who never understand the power and the blessing of the local work. To them “going to church” is but a ritual. They want the worship period to get over as quickly as possible so they can get out. They rush to the doors and do not speak to anyone except the ones who may be sitting close to them. They take no part in any activity of the church except worship and, for the most part, only on Sunday morning. These individuals are the first ones who can tell you, there is not enough love in the church. They never visit the hospitals, nursing homes or the homes of any members. Yet, they can tell you quickly, what is wrong with the church.
There are still others who do not find that the local work provides them with all they need. They become busy in writing about problems hundreds of miles away from their local works. They interject themselves into the problems of others without being asked. They become a source of not solving problems but increasing the problems. Why is this the case? If we are busy locally trying to bring the lost to Jesus, encourage the saints, help the wayward and increase our own knowledge, why would we not be content with serving the Lord in this manner? If I can serve the Lord in a local setting, then I would have the praise of God. Some are more interested in the praise of men than of God (John 12:43).
What about other congregations? It is, likewise, a joy to attend other congregations who are having a meeting, lectureship, or workshop. The reason being is that it gives us an opportunity to encourage other Christians and increase our knowledge through the teaching of the Word of God. Again there are some who fail to approach it in that manner. If there is some speaker at another congregation whom they are not really “fond” of, they just do not attend. At lectureships they show up only for certain ones. It is not due to subject matter but rather the speaker. When I am able to attend lectures at other congregations I try to not miss a single service. The reason is I can gain knowledge from what I hear.
We, then, are faced with a sad situation. Some brethren are not content with the local work and apparently display that they have no need to listen to someone else and, thereby, increase their knowledge of the Lord. Jesus would not allow His followers to call one another Rabbi or master. His reasoning was that they were all brethren (Matthew 23:7,8). He, therefore, would not allow them to elevate themselves above their brethren. What if you live out your total Christian journey and no one but a few brethren locally, know who you are? Would such a life be disaster or a waste? Those who help the local work grow stronger through teaching and living will never be a failure. They are doing what God wants them to do with their lives through service.
What if you go to some big gathering of Christians together and no one knows you. Would that be so awful? If you are coming to learn it would not matter at all. If you are coming to be seen, it would be a disaster. Brethren may each of us find the glory in our local works in serving the Lord of glory, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.