Termites
In The Church
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f the cry were made that we have termites in the church building, all efforts would be made to find them since they are very destructive. My brethren, the termites just mentioned are dangerous, but not nearly so much as church termites! There are those in almost any given congregation who eat away like termites. Someone has researched the habits of the termite, and I would like to use their findings for this article. Let us focus in on the ways of the termite, and apply them to spiritual principles.
We are told that of all insects, the termite
considers only itself. Some insects work together and help each other, but the
termite is selfish.
There
are those in the church who love only themselves. When something happens to
their brethren, they show no concern. Any religion they possess is centered on
the well being of only themselves. Paul writes: “Bear one another's burdens,
and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians
6:2). James defines pure religion in these words: “Pure and undefiled
religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in
their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).
The termite does its best work in the dark. It loves
to get in a wet dark place and there accomplish its dirty work. The termite has
destroyed thousands of dollars worth of damage before being discovered.
Have
you ever known one or more in the church to secretly eat away at peace and
unity? Usually this kind of destruction is done privately, and by the time such
is discovered, great harm has been done.
The
apostle John was deeply concerned about a man named Diotrephes: “I wrote to
the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does
not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he
does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he
himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting
them out of the church” (3 John
1:9,10)
A structure may be totally weakened when invaded by
termites! They work on the parts that are essential to the strength of the
building.
Church
members undermine the work of the church. Such make their attack on unity,
which is essential to keeping a congregation growing. Good works, which are not
performed to their satisfaction, are ridiculed. Usually they do their greatest
damage with their tongues. James warns: “If anyone among you thinks he is
religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this
one's religion is useless” (James
1:26).
Termites have soft shells, but they are still very
capable of doing great damage to structures.
This
is likewise true with the church termite. They look for ways to get their
feelings hurt and always find such. But this does not stop their destructive
work, but rather, such is used to increase the harm that they do.
How
is the best way to get rid of church termites? Make sure that the foundation of
the church is Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 16:16-18), and that it is
built of stones—“living stones!” “...you also, as living stones, are being
built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). —BBBristow