The Greatest Christian Sin
The Greatest Christian Sin
Many writers, secular and religious, talk about the failure of the church. But since the church is made up of the totality of its members, the failure of the church is the failure of its members. Let us leave out of our consideration, for the moment, the question of the mixture of tares in the midst of the wheat. It is simple to explain the failure of the church on the basis of the mingling of the unregenerate with those who have been born again.
Let us look at the church as an organism and consider the failure of those who are truly saved, for there is a sense in which the true church does fail. Christ said, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (John 9:5). But now that He is not in the world He is no longer the light of the world except by reflection through those of whom He said, "Ye are the light of the world" (Matt. 5:14). What is wrong with the believers? What is the chief sin of the Christian?
The world says that "familiarity breeds contempt." This may be true in some situations, but familiarity also breeds something entirely apart from contempt. In multitudes of Christian lives familiarity breeds indifference, and indifference is the characteristic sin of the believing church today. Several million Christians go to church each Sunday and hear evangelical sermons; they are not lacking across the country. Although there are areas where there may be but one building in fifty miles which houses a group of true believers of the Lord Jesus, there are vast areas where the doctrine is impeccable but the people are indifferent. Honest preachers who have cried to God in the loneliness of their studies will hold forth the faithful Word, but many wonderful people will only smile at them and say, "I certainly did enjoy it." The preaching was meant to probe, to prick the heart, to burn the dross, but people go back instead to their conversations about neighbors and friends and all the pettiness of life.
The reason for this indifference seems to be that these people only have time for God from eleven to twelve on Sunday morning, and fifteen seconds of grace before a meal and sixty seconds of prayer before sleeping. There is no feeding upon the Word, yet growth comes from the Word (1 Peter 2:2). We must steadfastly hold forth the Word and call people to it. There is no other cure.
1. Much like Dr. Barnhouse’s day, apathy is killing the church. How then is the complacency of the 21st century being played out in our theology, church lives and involvement in society?
2. Dr. Barnhouse is rightly addressing an issue of commitment in our churches. How do we view daily devotions? Is this a biblical view of spiritual growth? Why or why not?
