Day 10

 Every Christian shall be taught to work for the Church with his hands.  If we do not have the funds to hire someone to paint, clean, build, or repair God’s House, then let Christians do it themselves.  Let it be taught as a policy in order that fine fellowships may be developed and no House of God look as if it were not loved. 

 

            There shall be developed a ministry of the laity.  In such a ministry laymen shall teach, visit, witness, and take part in every service of the Church. The task before us is too great for the clergy, and the great untapped reservoir of manpower is the laity.  We have, without knowing it, drifted into “clergy religion” in which the clergyman is not the leader of a working, witnessing congregation, but rather the man who works for the congregation.

            The great task of the Church today is by a deepening of fellowship to raise the laity from a preoccupation with finance to the level of religious witnesses.

 

            Every Christian shall be taught to tithe.   By tithing we mean 10 percent of one’s income.  It has seemed strange to me for some time that a body the size of our Church gives its people little of no guidance in how to give.  We speak a great deal of why, bu never of how.  And the result is that many people give to the Lord’s work after they are through living.  They pay for every conceivable thing, including vacation, amusements, and luxuries, and then give to the Lord.  We should, however, in thanksgiving and love give to the Lord of our life, and not after we are through living.  And because we are told to put God first in our lives, we should put Him first in our budget.  We live in a serious age; and it is high time that we stop playin with Christianity.  We can venture out; and when we venture, the Grace of God will come to us with joy and power. Our responsibility is very great; and Grace is not cheap.

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