An Interesting Observation

The article below was taken from Dr. Benjamin George's daily devotion emails. Interesting observation about flocks leaving by the backdoor!

I AM SHOCKED THAT YOU HAVE SO QUICKLY TURNED FROM GOD, WHO CHOSE YOU BECAUSE OF HIS WONDERFUL KINDNESS. GALATIANS 1.6.



‘Those who enter through the front door of the church are few and noticed but those who exit through the back door are many and unnoticed!’ One may take it as a joke but church leaders are only quick to endorse it. The early churches also had such problems. But the significant difference is that while there were apostles and other leaders in those days who cared enough to notice these faults and failures of the believers and caution and encourage them, today, many who are deserting go unobserved and forgotten.



In many of the large cathedrals and churches of the major denominations there is only one main entrance and the congregation uses it to enter and exit. The priest or the pastor is there, especially at the close of every service to personally greet every member. That personal touch with the leader himself is appreciated and valued by the members very much. Even though it does not give much time for each one to a have long conversation with his or her leader, no one wants to miss that opportunity to meet and greet him.



Definitely it takes more than a handshake to know how one’s flock is faring. That is why the parish priests or the pastors make regular home visits. Sadly this is seriously lacking in the Evangelical churches of today. It was hoped that the problem could be solved by having Cell Groups but not so! The simple reason is that most Cell leaders are secular men who are unable to be as dedicated as ‘pastors or priests’ because they are too busy with their work and too tired to take care of the sheep under them!



The lack or failure on the part of the leaders does not give the freedom for you and I to desert our faith or our Lord or our church. In today’s text we have the above serious remark by the apostle Paul about such believers, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel”.



Why do Christians like you and I desert our Lord and our faith? The Word of God tells us clearly why. We love the world and the things of this world more than we love the Lord. They make little time with the Lord and His Word daily for they have no determination or desire to do so! Hence, it is always good to be forewarned. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (1 Jn 2.15-17).



Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, let me be not a deserter! Help me to love You more by daily reading Your Word and talking (praying) to You. Keep me from loving the world more than I love You, Lord!