The strength of the church lies in her supernatural elements, her sure foundation, her divine cornerstone, and her resilient spirit. The weakness of the church lies in her human elements. The church is weak in proportion as her membership is weak, uninformed, insincere, or derelict in the performance of duty.
NON-ATTENDING MEMBERS: They are found in every congregation, and they form a very considerable group. Whatever explanation or apology may be offered for this situation, the fact remains that the influence of the church suffers heavily at the hands of its non-attending members. Little headway can be made with a membership that takes church attendance lightly. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
UNINFORMED MEMBERS: It is perfectly plain when a life has been “born again,” its growth can be sustained and mature only through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. An uninformed Christian will become a weak and sickly Christian; an uninformed church, a weak and sickly church. “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Milk is for babes; solid food, for full-grown men. “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20).
NON-SUPPORTING MEMBERS: A church is strong or feeble, not primarily in proportion to its membership, but in proportion to its supporting members. The strength of a church is the number of active members — those who invest time, thought, energy, and money in its maintenance. The weakness of the church is in the number of inactive members. “From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16).
via Findlay church of Christ
Sparta, TN