1. When one family member gets sick the whole family stays home from worship. But on Monday everyone goes to their proper place: work, school, teaching, etc.
2. When the house payment, car payment or any other payment is due, it is paid even though out of town when payment is due, sick when payment is due, on vacation when payment is due, or whatever. But when worship is missed, for some reason the contribution is never made up by certain individuals (I Cor. 16:1-2).
3. When there is sickness and danger among our loved ones and friends, we warn and try to help in every way possible. But when our brothers and sisters in Christ and our family and friends are in spiritual danger of losing their soul or they need to be warned, we often refuse to do so. Why? Is religion and going to heaven less important?
4. When people tell us a lie it really bothers and upsets us. But when people go about teaching false doctrine that sends souls to hell (II Thess. 2:8-11), most people do not get upset at all. The sad thing about it is that many members of the church seem to care little about such.
5. If you want a fight on your hands, just be a staunch Republican or a strong Democrat. We hear and see this all the time on radio and TV, and we read about it in the paper. But when it comes to religion most people will not cross the street to talk about the Bible and going to heaven. Why is this so? Can you tell us?
6. When tornadoes, tsunamis, storms of all kinds come and great devastation takes place, people will dig deeply and sacrifice to help in such times. But when souls are starving to death for the gospel all around the world, people seem to care very little. Is the soul of man worth less than the physical body (Matt. 16:26)?
7. Moms and dads want their children to excel in their education work. They demand their children work and get their homework in school. But when it comes to the Sunday school lesson and Bible study this seems not to be too important.
8. When people have a business, teach at school, have an appointment with the dentist or doctor, etc., they are on time. But when it comes to the services of the church, many have the bad habit of coming in late. It seems not to bother them and if you mentioned it to them, some of them would get mad because they are guilty of a bad habit and you called it to their attention. Is this the proper attitude? Is this the Christian attitude?
9. Certain companies demand certain rules for clothing. Some of them demand that ladies wear dress skirts and blouses, or dressy dresses, dressy pantsuits, etc. But when it comes to the church there are those who care less about their attire when attending the worship services. They may wear holy blue jeans, hip-huggers, low necklines or tight clothing. Is the church of the Lord below worldly businesses? Should our standards for the church be lower than our standards for the world?
10. Businesses demand that their employees be nice, kind, courteous, friendly, smile, and try to please the customer. But in the church it seems that some want to look as sour as they can, speak as course as they can, be as cool as they can, and act as if others mean nothing to them.
11. In life’s work, men want to do the best they can. If they are doctors, lawyers, teachers, writers, etc. They want to be the very best they can be. But when it comes to being a Christian, many do not seem to care very much. Some do not care to be below the mark of Christianity, and some are happy to be just the average. Why this type of attitude? Do most men really care about God and the Bible?
12. In the business world men demand facts. They know that just thinking a thing is right does not make it so. But in religion people think if you think you are right in religion you are right and will be saved no matter what you believe. Jesus did not think this (Matt. 15:14).
13. In matters of this life a name is important. If we were to call you Sam, Joe, Bill, Tom, Mehershallahashbaz (Isa. 8:1), or some other name when your real name is Sampson, you would be offended. But in religion most people say a name does not matter. If this is so, why not call the name of the church where you attend the church of Satan? There are hundreds of religious names used in the world today that are not found in the Bible. But we are to speak where the Bible speaks (I Pet. 4:11).
14. In this life we can judge in just about everything we think of. But most people believe we cannot judge in religion (I Thess. 5:21; II Cor. 13:5; Matt. 15:8-20).
15. Millions and millions of books have been written and studied. Men understand that these books can be understood. But Almighty God gave us the book, the Bible, and most people say they cannot understand it. Is this sound thinking? Is this true?
16. In this life we expect each person to do their part. But when it comes to the Bible and the Christian life many have the attitude, “Let the other fellow do it.” They think they can be saved with such an attitude (Rom. 14:12; II Cor. 5:10; Eccl. 12:13-14).
17. Folks criticize the people who crucified Jesus. But many in the church crucify the elders, the deacons, the preacher, and anyone else they wish to crucify and think nothing of it.
18. Many would not think of stealing a car, a motorcycle, golf clubs, etc. But they will steal another man’s wife and feel good about it (Mark 6:17-19).
There are so many things like this that we cannot number them. You know, man is a funny creature. Who can understand him? We must say that God only can understand man.
Malcolm L. Hill
Founder, Tennessee Bible College
(January 12, 1934 – June 26, 2012)