Who Are You Listening To?

 May 17, 2024

Friday

We all know someone who used to be very involved in church that either comes sporadically or not at all. There was a time that this person was a regular that you could count on to sit in the same place each week, be involved in vital ministries, and genuinely seek the best for the church. Now, they don't attend nor do they really want to have much to do with the church. They are involved in other outside activities that take their time. Church is an afterthought.

Our problem is that we don't see that this falling away was coming long before they stopped attending church. There wasn't a day that "O, today I think I will stop being involved in church" was said. We must remember that the heart leaves long before the body.

The truth is that this could happen to any of us. Surprisingly, it depends on who we are listening to. The story goes like this: There was a young man who was so in love with a young woman that he told her that he would climb the highest mountain,  swim the widest river, and cross the largest desert to prove his love for her.  So, he left to climb the highest mountain, swim the widest river, and cross the largest desert while writing to her every day. He comes home to find that she has left him for the mailman. 

I know a couple who were very close. The wife decided to take up scuba diving. Her husband wasn't interested but didn't object to her taking the lessons and going on scuba diving trips. Several months later she left her husband for the scuba instructor.

So, let's say that you are very involved in your church. It has been instrumental to your growth in Christ. On the other hand, your friendships with people who don't go to church continue to grow. Eventually, you find yourself with stronger friends outside the church than inside the church. Your "outside" friends tease you about your church attendance. They point out the failures that church pastors and church members have in living up to the standards they espouse. They show how they are there for you when the church members haven't been. Your heart goes with the "outside" friends. You join them in their activities. You may still attend church but your heart is no longer there.

This is very subtle. Most people don't see it coming. They are still in the world and still have friends who are in the world. Some of these friends are typically of the world, as well. It isn't that you can't have friends who don't come to church. It becomes a problem when you are listening to them. It becomes a problem when you take your eyes off of what you should be. Listening doesn't mean that you fail to have conversations but these conversations are leading you astray. Satan questioned God's word to Eve. She was wooed away by listening to him. She took her eyes off of the word and placed them on the world. It's a short distance from there to disobeying God.

Each of us must have those we get to know well within the church so that we can watch and imitate what they do. They must be the ones who keep our feet to the fire. Each of us need to get to know those in the church and sort out the one or ones we should imitate. None of them are perfect. But together we hold each other together. 

I know I need people who are walking with the Lord around me. You do too.

Philippians 3:17–18 (NASB 2020) ¹⁷ Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. ¹⁸ For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ,