The Coolest Church Members

This is a picture of my new fridge. “Oh no”, you mutter. “He’s really desperate for material now”. Bear with me.

My previous fridge’s temperature sensor stopped working. Consequently, it was running constantly, as it could never reach its desired level of chill. This made it rather noisy, and after six months or so, it burned itself out. Despite all its noise and energy, it failed to complete the very task it was assigned- the refrigeration of food.

At the expense of many pounds, I purchased a replacement. I had grown so accustomed to the noise that the new fridge was silent in comparison. It was more efficient to run and it even did the job of keeping my food fresh.

The churches I have known had similar types of member. Some were noisy but ineffective; always requiring attention but not really doing anything worthwhile. Others silently got on with their roles and ministries, unseen by many.

‘…Equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:12-16 (ESV)