Liba Hopeson
BTC, Pfutsero
[dropcap]F[/dropcap]irstly, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to all the Churches which have been doing well in the Ministry of God. I believe that all the leaders from good Churches won’t react against the writer for this piece of writing, for they know what they do. Normally, when we’re guilty as a result of our failures or weaknesses or shortcomings, we speak out defensive words or react in different ways to defend ourselves. However, I don’t mean to say that those who are good or who are right always keep silent. In fact, there is a time for everything.There are diverse views on whether or not we should build nice or beautiful Church. Many have the opinion that we need to build magnificent Church. But, some don’t like this idea because it is expensive. They often say that instead of investing so much on building a Church, we can sponsor and support missionaries, help the poor and do other charity works. Indeed, their suggestions on what we can do may not be bad and wrong, but for the sake of doing those works, we may not necessarily abstain from investing in the Church, if the purpose is right.
For the functions or activities of the Church include different elements. So, to me, if our motive of building a beautiful Church is right, it is not wrong to invest much on it, of course, if is possible for us. For we know that having fellowship is one of the important elements of the Church. If our study room atmosphere is good, need and clean, we can concentrate better and study well. In the same manner, if the worship place is good, we
Nevertheless, the trend we see today is questionable. There seems to be a kind of competition going on even in Church developments. Many Churches seem to be overemphasizing on developments, which certainly involve different interests, motives and purposes. Are we also trying to build buildings so that we can be like others? Do we want to have splendid buildings because we want to be praised and appreciated by others? It is true that when a Church is lively, there is prosperity, but many think that all the prosperous Churches are lively or they prosper because they know God. Today, there may be many Churches like the Sardis Church, which had the reputation of being lively, but in the sight of God it was dead (Rev. 3:1). It was talked about, elevated and praised by the neighboring Churches because it was rich and prosperous. People considered that it was a lively Church. But, God rebuked them and said, ‘you are dead’. From here, we learn one very important thing; that is, how we look at thing and how God sees or looks at things is very different.
Are there many Churches like the Church of Sardis? Are there Churches honored and lifted up because of their beautiful activities and performances, but in the sight of God, they are actually dead? I feel there are Churches like Sardis today. Prosperity can really fool and confuse us immensely. Let us rethink!
In this write-up, I don’t simply try to throw criticisms on the Church leaders, but intend to share some ideas to reflect on what is prevalent in our Church today, so that we can find ways of improvement. I know how hard it is to be a Church leader. I know how difficult it will be if I’m the pastor of a Church. But, as I observe, I could see that something is going wrong in many Churches today. Their view in the Church is development-oriented. If we think development is required in the Church, what is wrong then? Over-emphasis on development makes us neglect developing human resources.
Many Churches are so much interested in developing infrastructures, not human. They grudge investing money in giving gifts (salary), organizing Bible camps, helping the widows, orphans, poor and others. Many may think of doing these things, but have the concept that, only after the infrastructures are well developed or the Church is rich enough, they will invest. This is what we have gone wrong terribly. We have forgotten that developing infrastructures and humans need to go hand in hand. We have failed to realize that, Church income come from humans, and therefore, we should not grudge spending on them.
We have forgotten that, for a Church to be rich, humans have to be developed. Our concept of serving God in our best way only after infrastructures are well developed will make us poor – poor in infrastructures and human resource. If we do not invest enough for humans, the growth of the Church will be slow, because developments come from and through humans. In serving God, developing infrastructures and human resource should go together. What we can do, whether organize a Bible camp or retreat, or help the poor and needy, we have to do, though we are not very rich. If we have the concepts that only when we are financially and economically sound, we’ll work for God well, we cannot progress and please God. So, what we can do now, whether poor or rich, we have to do.
But, the question is why do we have such concepts? There are many possible reasons. But few could be like, we lack faith, we’re narrow-minded, we don’t have good commitment to serve God, we lack knowledge or ideas or we’re blinded by something. It will certainly differ from Church to Church, as we have different contexts. Whatever is, if concern I want to put up in this write-up is that, we have to spend on developing human resources, because they are the resources of God, the resources that will bring developments. We receive from human, so we have to invest on human. We receive from God, so we’ve to invest on God’s people.
