I f so, the church is not just speaking. It is speaking of the need. With over 25,000 active mis sionaries ministering in scores of foreign lands, is the charge of a silent church unfounded? Is not part of the problem with the finger-pointers ? Do they listen when the church speaks ? More impor tant, do they really understand the true business o f the church? The Scriptures clearly state that the church’s three-fold ministry is to God, to her members and to the world. God created her for Himself and therefore her first responsibility is to worship her Creator. Such worship may be private or public, audible or silent. Believers are told to meet in groups. “ Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together . . . ” (Heb. 10:25). Such gather ings are for worship and they are public and audible. The individual Christian is also instruct ed to worship on his own. “ Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). The second ministry of the church is directed toward her members as symbolized in Jesus’ wash ing His disciples’ feet. Spiritual growth is natural in the church when Christians “ let the word of Christ dwell in them richly” and as they “ teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” (Col. 3:16). Therefore, the Apostle Paul instructs Christians to “ seek to excel in edifying” (I Cor. 14:12) “ till we all come in the unity of the faith, and o f the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the; measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). The church that faithfully worships God and edifies her members will not be a silent church. Realizing that the cure she has found is the cure the world needs, she will speak up. She will share her faith. She will follow her Lord's example. Dr. Luke tells us that the purpose of our Lord’s com ing was “ to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Every mission hospital, orphanage, school and seminary is the church speaking and seeking. Every soup kitchen, refugee center, evangelistic meeting and city-wide crusade are examples o f the church’s following in her Lord’s footsteps and speaking through actions and by words. I f you will listen, you will hear the church speak. g
P e o p l e T o d a y are pointing accusing fingers at the church. The world is in deep trouble and the church, they say, is silent. Is this accusa tion true? Can the church honestly be charged with silence when her outstanding Bible teachers and evangelists are heard by millions of listeners on hundreds o f radio stations every week? And is not the message preached by these men o f stature the right remedy for the epidemic immorality that is devouring the moral character o f our race?
Dr. Dick Hillis is Pounder/Director of Overseas Cru sades, Inc.
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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