Be a do-er, or encourage those who are

I once heard a story about a pastor who one Sunday morning announced that in that night's evening service there would be a special vote on whether the church would continue holding that service in the future.
Next Sunday morning in the church bulletin there was no mention of a Sunday evening service.
When asked why, the pastor replied the church had voted to cancel the services.
This greatly upset some people and a group of them got together and complained to the pastor that they had not voted to stop these services!
The pastor then asked, "Were you here last Sunday night?" "No," they replied, each with a different excuse.
"Oh, yes. You did vote," the pastor responded, "And you made your vote clear."



Patrick Mead sums this up in his rule of "those who don't do shalt not complain about those who do - WHATEVER they may be DOing"


So often (and this is not reserved just for churches) these days people want to sit on their hands doing nothing, saving all their energy to instead be used on crushing the spirits of those who are doing things.

We see people up in arms when an event isn't held or when something doesn't make the calendar when they have never attended or supported the event in question in anyway.

People fervently want ministry booklets full of programs, even though they will never attend, support, or staff any of them... but they better still be available!

People look down on the planners for not planning it how they would plan it, even though they wont assist

They call into question trips and classes even though they don't attend

They are angered by the days and times chosen because even though they work for everyone else, they don't work perfectly for them personally (again, even though they would have no intention of attending or supporting it anyway).

• Strive to be an encouragement to those who are planning and doing.  If there is a program you would like to have at your church and it isn't being offered, start it

• If there is a need that isn't being met, meet it

• If you need to be reached out to, then reach out to others

• If you need to see something, then be the light

• If you desire a change, then be that change

• Always strive to be an encouragement to those who are trying to bless others, even if it isn't in the way, the place, or the time that you would have picked - because they have a heart, and they are trying.

Be a do-er.  Be a planner.  Be a leader.  Take the initiative.

Recognize church for what it is (a place to serve and feed others) and don't mistake it for a 'made-to-order' fast food mart where you are a price shopping consumer.

We are not shoppers and consumers, we are servants and stewards.