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Does Your Church Have Too Many Old People?

And so fourth, having remembered that, ask yourself the question: What do you expect? What do you demand?

Is it your attitude that you won’t stay if you don’t already see a bunch of people like you already carrying the burden and doing the work? How would that even happen, if everyone else had your attitude?

Really, think it through: What if everyone else who visited that church was unwilling to stay until someone else did the work they’re unwilling to do, to provide the ministry they’re demanding to receive? Like you’re doing?

And how would that even happen? How does that happen? How do you think churches grow, ever? Have you asked yourself that question?

Do you think they drop down out of Heaven, fully-staffed with volunteers committed to doing what you’re unwilling to do? Do you think pastors simply pick up the phone, dial 1-800-FLOATER, and order a set of 45 trained, equipped, qualified, committed 25-year-olds to be delivered next Sunday to create the ministry of which you wish to be a passive beneficiary?

I recall a man telling a story some years ago that led me to respect (and like) him even more than I already did. He was a black brother, who’d begun attending this predominantly white church.

After a time, he felt a bit lonesome and discouraged. It was still pretty much just him and his wife amid a sea of lighter shade of pale, and they sometimes felt like they stuck out. After a while of no change in the collective epidermal hue, he was tempted to leave, to give up.

But then Bill asked himself, “So, if I leave, what does the next black brother find when he comes? Same thing I found.

Someone has to be first, someone has to stay, someone has to build. Why shouldn’t it be me?” And he stayed; and in time he did not remain alone. In fact, when the pastor left, the church called a black brother to pastor the church. In part, because Bill asked himself, “Why shouldn’t I stay and build?”

Good question, eh?

Bibley, in truth, wouldn’t you say?