Recently I read an article in the “Christian Standard” entitled, “An Epidemic of Selfishness”.
It was written by David Bycroft, a minister in Tyro, Kansas. Here's an excerpt from it:
Many congregations today are being seriously damaged and sometimes even destroyed by Christians who are more led by their own desires than by the Spirit of Christ.
Some Christians, both in leadership and in the pew, are becoming roadblocks to reaching our communities for Christ. Many are most concerned with their own comfort, desires, and wants. They say things like, “Well, I like small churches,” or “I think we ought to use hymns and hymnbooks,” or “I don’t think we need coffee and donuts.”
This selfish talk always begins with “I think . . .” Does anyone ever ask, “What does God want?”
Many churches have become stagnant or are in decline because of this epidemic of selfishness. Few ask the relevant question, “What will it take to reach my lost neighbors?”
PREFER PAUL’S ATTITUDE
Paul demonstrated the attitude we should prefer:
To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some (1 Corinthians 9:20-22)*.
Had Paul gone about his ministry with an “I think this/I prefer that” attitude, he would never have reached the Gentile world. He was so diametrically opposite to their culture and way of life that had he served them only according to his likes and dislikes, the Gentile world may never have listened to the gospel. In fact, some in the early church almost killed the evangelism of the Gentile population by suggesting, We think you have to live like a Jew before you can become a Christian (see Acts 15).
The modern-day church lacks spiritual maturity. We need to recapture the heart of the early church that lived out this attitude: It’s not about me, it’s about them (the lost).
That was what Paul meant in 1 Corinthians 10:33 when he said, “Just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.”
Church life is not about my comfort and my likes or dislikes. Rather, reaching out to lost communities is the most mature and Christlike mind-set you can have (Luke 19:10). If church members will start focusing on what they must do to reach lost friends and family instead of what makes them happy, we can turn this epidemic of selfishness into selflessness.
He goes on to say:
Christians are at our best when we are serving, not sitting. Somewhere along the line we got the idea that church is all about coming together and “enjoying the show.” We have lost the biblical purpose of Ephesians 4:11, 12, which instructs leadership to train and equip the people in the pew “for the work of service”! In verses 13-16, Paul goes on to exclaim, Grow up! Quit being selfish infants and start doing what you can for the benefit of others. This leads to the building up and growth of the church.
Instead of this biblical model for the church, we have a generation of people who have become critics for Christ. They judge what’s going on and then heartily voice their disapproval by becoming the squeaky wheel. Elders begin to see their job as representatives for the disgruntled groups in the church rather than helping Christians become servants to reach the lost. Decisions are made to appease the squeaky wheels rather than to advance God’s kingdom.
But it’s not that way in every church.
A few churches have died to themselves and are reaching their communities in overwhelming ways. May we learn from their examples.
How can we defeat this selfishness and PROMOTE SELFLESSNESS?
Here are a few ideas that he had to promote selflessness and advance the kingdom:
• Park away from the building, and leave the closest parking places for visitors and the elderly. Why take the choice parking places at church instead of walking a little ways so it’s easier for others to find a spot? We don’t mind walking several blocks to get into a sporting event!
• Sit in the front of the auditorium and move to the middle of the row. Leave the back seats for visitors who might feel conspicuous tromping down the aisle and crawling over people to get to empty seats in the middle of the row. And if someone just happens to come in and sit in your “regular, assigned” seat, choose to praise God instead of griping about it. It’s amazing that some get so steamed about losing their lifelong seating arrangement they can’t even worship God! What a shame, or should I say sham!
• Begin a roving greeter ministry. Walk around the auditorium or hallway looking for new people, and ask if you can help them. And don’t just point them in the right direction; take them to where they need to be. To new people at your church, a smile, handshake, or an offer of assistance will make a huge difference in whether they want to come back to your church.
ELIMINATE THE EPIDEMIC
The epidemic of selfishness in churches today is also evidenced by the difficulty in filling ministry needs, especially during worship services. It seems to be getting harder to find people who are willing to sacrifice their own worship time in order that others—such as parents of small children—may attend worship in a less distracted way. In one way, we are thrilled to have people who are anxious to praise God and hear his Word preached. However, many positions for nursery, preschool, and children’s church are constantly in need of volunteers.
Many churches now pay workers to serve in those areas because they can’t recruit enough of their own members who are willing to give up an hour of worship once a month in order to bless the kids and their parents. Jesus reminded us what to do when the kingdom workers are few: “Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38).
This becomes a nonissue when we develop spiritually mature people who say, “It’s not about me—it’s about them!”
When church people grow up and become mature enough to have the attitude of selflessness, lots of things will begin to change. People are affected by and drawn to givers, not takers. After all, wasn’t that the example left by our Savior?
Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16: 24, 25).
Let’s follow Him and eliminate the epidemic of selfishness
