The Preacher's Pen

Go to the American Lung Association with a toe problem and ask for help. What would happen? Chances are good that those folks would be unable to assist you. Their area of expertise begins at the top of your chest and ends about the middle of your stomach. They aren't the American Toe Association. They do lungs, and anything associated with your lungs and breathing.

Does that mean they aren't compassionate? If you are turned away and told to have your toe looked at elsewhere does that mean the American Lung Association does not care? Is the American Lung Association "anti" toes, or horror of horrors, actually guilty of hating toes? No, they are not. When the ALA tells you to go elsewhere for toe care it simply means that they have a mission, a focused objective, and they have to "stay on target." They do lungs, period. If they start scattering themselves all over everywhere doing everything for everyone who will take care of lung and breathing problems?

The parallel to the church is obvious, isn't it? The church is in the spiritual business of helping souls prepare for eternity so as to be received by God into heaven. That is the mission and purpose of the church (1 Tim. 3:15; Matthew 28:18-20). Everything we do revolves around that aim. If a person comes needing secular employment what can the church do? Not much more than the American Lung Association can do with toes! We aren't an employment agency, recreation center, political action committee or welfare aid society. Saying that is going to make some people angry. Others will be aghast that a church thinks it is not primarily a benevolent society. But we will steadfastly refuse to abandon our mission to do what others think we ought to be doing. We will not neglect lungs to start helping toes. That doesn't make us uncaring, orphan haters, or "anti." It does make us committed to New Testament Christianity.