The Church Won’t Run Itself, Pt 1

by Bob Blouin

When growing up, if someone said to you, “We’ve got to clean the house before company comes tonight,” typically the house didn’t get cleaned. I mean, “we” means anyone but me, right? However, if your mother or father gave a checklist to everyone with three simple tasks to accomplish, with a little supervision, things got done. While a military leader, I came to understand that little good happens when a group of soldiers are left their own devices. By assigning responsible leadership over them, productive work resulted.

If you work at the local convenience store, restaurant, hospital, auto repair shop, or play on a sports team, someone is in charge, supervises, or manages the people in its organization. The point is, someone somewhere in your life has made, or still makes decisions toward the care and benefit of your wellbeing.

You may have heard it said, “Well, we just don’t need anyone over us!” Let’s take a look at Genesis 2. Firstly, God told Adam what he would do, (v.15 tend the garden). Secondly, He told him what not to do, (v.17 shall not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil). Next, He assigned Adam a work (v.19 20, name the beasts of the field and the birds of the air). Finally, God sent Adam and Eve out of the garden of Eden to till the ground. (Genesis 3:19-21)

The Old Testament further shows us God’s principles: Cain tilled the land (Genesis 4:2, 12); Noah built the ark (Genesis 6:14ff); Abram was sent to a land yet unknown (Genesis 12:1); Isaac and Jacob were commanded to lead (Genesis 46:2ff); Moses (via Aaron) was chosen to lead (Exodus 3:10); David and Solomon, while imperfect, were set as leaders; and Ezekiel, Daniel, and the rest of the prophets were commanded to teach and admonish the people.

The New Testament likewise gives God’s precepts for an organized church: Jesus commanded: Repent ye; Follow Me; Go ye; Hear Me; Believe Me; Abide in Me; Paul instructed: How to walk (in the Spirit); how to talk (speak same thing); how to sing (heart); James stated: Be doers; submit to God; humble yourselves; restore the sinner from their error; John directed: Keep His commandments; practice righteousness; love not the world; and Peter asserted: shepherd the flock of God; serve as overseers; humble yourselves.

Shall we expect God to just throw men into a church and let them figure it out? Absolutely not. But more on that in the next bulletin. Until then, keep yourself holy, for He is holy.