[222 words]
“I’ll never attend that church again,” some people say. “There are too many hypocrites in it.”
If we think about this for a moment, we may come to understand that since the church is composed of human beings, there will always be imperfection. Should we, then, condemn the church and refuse to attend its services because it is filled with imperfect humans? Now, that idea is just not sensible. We’re all human!
The Apostle Paul wrote the young preacher, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:20-21 NKJV).
A commentator on this passage wrote, “A good person does not regard goodness as an entitlement to special honor.” Instead, a good person keeps on preparing to do more for the Master, not less.
You see, it is always possible that someone may see in our example of greater service a way to repent of shortcoming and become “a vessel of honor.”
So, let’s all seek greater service for the Master and help bring along those who haven’t quite understood what is truly important, yet. Maybe they will!
John Henson
Dibrell Church of Christ
McMinnville, TN