June 02, 2008
Adding to Their Number
We just had another baptism, but rather than the river, this young lady opted for a pond. At one time our denominational churches all attended a camp facility located in the mountains. Every summer attendees restacked river rocks and maintained a make-shift baptismal in the clear running river winding through the camp. Normally at a baptism you need only the dunker, the dunkee and any witnesses you can round up. At church camp however, we also had to have two or three men stationed down stream just in case the newly saved soul slipped out of the preacher’s hands. Of late we become so accustomed to not having baptisms that having two of them within a matter of a few weeks gives me a lump in my throat. I can’t even imagine how I’d react if we were like the early church where “…the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47b NIV)
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3 comments:
Gail;
-----In Acts, when the Lord added every day those who were being saved, the reference was to the whole church coming into existence at Jerusalem. I wonder what it would sound like if each of the churches at Montrose stopped bogarting the rejoicing and started sharing the number being saved with the whole community of believers at Montrose. I wonder what would be the effect?
-----Not to change the subject, but Char and I experienced a little blessing at FPC Sunday. It was installation day for the newly chosen elder and two newly chosen deacons. The preacher called for all the elders to come forward to lay their hands upon them. As these were coming forward, he added, “And if you have been an elder here in the past, but are not now, would you please come forward as well.” And while those few more were going forward, he added even further, “And if you are, or have ever been an elder of any church, anywhere, would you please come forward, too.”
-----Ah, the church at Montrose! She is here but she is scattered. I long for the day we will all act like what we are. Then we would all rejoice over all being added to her each day.
Love,
Steve Corey
Steve,
Color me impressed! Kudos to your preacher for acknowledging those who’ve served as elders in other churches. This also highlights what some people are missing. It’s not just the supposed trouble makers and laymen chaff who are going to the exit door. When you see your Biblically qualified elder-types leaving…here’s your sign.
Gail
Gail;
-----Not only is that a sure sign, but by the very nature of the laws of spiritual physics presented to us in the Word, when the leaders of a church create pressures that squirt any Bible and God knowledgable person out the door they have squirted away another who probably is even more qualified to lead the godliness in the church than are they. And that, my dear brothers and sisters, is no way to build up a Temple.
Love to you all,
Steve Corey
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