"IN THE VALLEY BY THE WILDWOOD"

How I long for the days of the little white frame building where saints of God would assemble on the Lord's Day to worship. It was a simpler time back then. They often had no bridge but it didn't bother anyone to drive across the creek. Anyway it was rare for the rain to swell the creek enough that folks couldn't get to services. If it were hot they would raise the windows and use the fans provided by the local funeral home. If it were cold they would put another shovel of coal in the stove. No one complained that they had to wear heavier clothes because it was winter you know. The pews had been hand-made many years ago by a brother now buried in the yard outside. If anyone had a medical problem they would bring a cushion to sit on to pad the area of discomfort. They joked about the church down the road with their padded pews. Did those folks go to church to sleep? If they were thirsty they would go the bucket and use the ladle. If they had a necessity there was a small building out back for the purpose. Classes were held in different corners of the meeting room so God's Word could be taught to children on their level. The older men would sit on the side in the amen corner during the service. They would voice their agreement to the truth and they would also challenge any error if needed. No one told them that it wasn't "decently and in order". The sign out front reflected the people who met inside. Often it just said "Meeting House." No one thought to paint the name of the preacher on it. He was just a member of the congregation who taught the Word of God. They had a simple faith with a simple unassuming place to express it. A farmer was accepted in his clean overalls. A lady was not ashamed to wear a summer print dress even in the winter if it was the best she had.

Then something terrible happened. With the rest of the country we became more prosperous. Things that didn't matter before became issues of much importance. Indoor plumbing became a necessity because the outhouse offended the better folks in town. Air conditioning made everyone more comfortable and surely he or she could worship better if they didn't sweat. They must have new pews because no one can worship God if their bottom hurt. A baptistery was added because they knew that some people refused to go down to the creek, especially in the winter. A classroom wing was added so young families would come if they had the proper facilities for their children. Someone said that we should give our best to the Lord so a suit and tie became the required attire. What would people think if they saw that stock truck, still smelling of Saturday's trips to the auction, parked outside the building? So that brother was asked to park it down the road. Yes I saw that happen! And finally the day came when the brethren decided that they must move to the other side of the creek.

You see, that old building was just a place to meet and worship God and it served its purpose. But when it became a symbol to the community of who we are, or wanted to be, it became a hindrance to the gospel and we needed a new one! I could list all of the reasons that were given. For example we could save a fifty dollars a month on heat and cooling if they only built a $200,000 building. The truth is it was only good economics for the contractor. Regardless of the excuses given it really boiled down to just one reason. PRIDE! The rich people, the important people, the famous people, the better people would come if they had more attractive "church." O yes they came, but at a price - a terrible price. It cost us our non-denominationalism because we needed an identity to compete with the other churches. It cost us our simple heart-felt worship because we wanted to impress our visitors. We traded our probing Bible study for a good pulpit preacher. We watered down even the preaching so as not to offend anyone, if we could help it. The end finally came when we exchanged the door-to-door preaching of Jesus Christ and Him crucified for mail-outs telling the community what a great church we were. We felt they must know that we had people in our church that were well educated, socially prominent, economically successful and they would feel at home with us. We don't convert a lot of "sinners" like we used to but they wouldn't fit in anyway. O yes, I miss the old building on the wrong side of the creek!

My best friend, Harold Howard, gave me this story just before he passed away. He told me it was a perfect illustration of what he and I preached comparing the assemblies of saints in the Bible with the modern church. It meant so much to me that I re-told it when I preached his funeral. If he was able to hear me I know he appreciated it. The story goes like this:

One Sunday morning an old biker came in the building. He was wearing clean but old blue jeans and a biker t-shirt. Over his arm was worn out leather jacket and in his hand an equally worn old Bible.

When he sat down in the pew the people nearby got up and moved away. They didn't want to be seen sitting with someone like that.

When the services were over the preacher stopped him at the door and said, "Sir, would you do something for me?" and the old biker said he would. The preacher said, "I want you to ask the Lord what would be the proper attire to wear when you come to worship."

The next Sunday the biker was back dressed in the same jeans, t-shirt, leather jacket and with his old Bible.

When he sat down the people around him moved again.

This time the preacher didn't wait till the end of services. He walked right up to the old biker and asked, "Did you do what I asked you to do?"

The biker said, "Yes sir I did."

"Well, what did the Lord say you should wear when you come here to worship?"

The old biker replied, "Sir he didn't know what I should wear when I come here because he has never been here!"

Brethren, Jesus did not preach to the religious, the rich or the socially prominent of his day. He preached to the adulterers, the drunks, the thieves and the prostitutes. They were the outcasts and low-lifes that society had rejected. The "good" people in society rejected him because of his associations but he didn't care what these people thought. He knew that his mission was to seek and save the lost and did not waste his time with those who believed they were already saved. Now hear the Word of the Lord:

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and "sinners"?"

On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." For I have not come to call the righteous but the sinners."

Matthew 9: 11-13

Final Thought:

It is not a sin to have a nice building with all the modern comforts but please understand: No sinner has ever been brought to Jesus because of a building! You may have some who assemble with you for that reason but they did not come to Jesus. Sinners who are "pricked in their hearts" will obey the gospel even if they are immersed in the creek and then worship with you under a tree! The problem is not the building the problem is the attitude of those who meet in it and as the saying goes "attitude is everything." Our attitude is that our building is the key to our evangelism. We believe a beautiful building will impress the community and they will come and hear the Gospel. It doesn't work that way. God's way is to GO AND TEACH. (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 8:4) Today's evangelism of COME AND LEARN is not only unscriptural it is a total failure! In 99% of congregations the conversions are not keeping up with the funerals! Proselyting from other congregations will only work for so long. Sooner or later it will be the congregation that dies and that funeral is the saddest of all. I know, I had to preach one.

The Parson