I Quit!

by Russell M. Kline

 

In Jeremiah 9:1-3, the prophet expressed profound disappointment with Israel, because of the people's general apathy toward the Word of God. In the second verse, he stated that he wished he was an inkeeper, so he would not have to deal with the aggravation of being a prophet of the Lord. But, in the end, he realized that he could not keep God's message bottled up inside himself. He would go on to write, "his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay" (Jer. 20:9).

 

From time to time, people have asked me if I have ever thought about quitting preaching, and going into a more stable line of work. Personally, I think I would question the honesty of any experienced gospel preacher who says that he never thought of quitting. The life of a preacher of God's Word is difficult, even in the best of times, and in the worst of times, it is fraught with frighteningly high levels of stress (II Tim. 3:12). What keeps me going is the same thing that kept Jeremiah going. I am certain that, if I ever quit using my God-giving talent for preaching His Word, my soul would be lost for ever (I Cor. 9:16; II Cor. 5:10,11).

 

This is why I am amazed by certain Christians who decide that they are going to "quit" the church. Many of them openly claim to love their brethren, and to love lost souls, but as soon as their sensibilities are offended in some way, they immediately begin to talk about leaving the church. A varitey of reasons are usually given to justify their behavior, but it is always a huge disappointment, when people who ought to know better decide that they are going to punish God for the conduct of a few of His children. Nothing in Heaven or in Earth can separate us from our Heavenly Father, but many people willingly walk away from a right relationship with God, out of sheer foolishness. What can be done to change the minds of brethren who say, "I quit?"

 

Christians must understand the they will be lost without the Lord in their lives. Before we put on Christ in baptism, we were without hope (Eph. 2:1-3,11,12). Indeed, all who are not members of the body of Christ are sinners, and aliens from the kingdom of the Lord (Rom. 3:23). Without Jesus in our lives, we were lost, and headed for eternity in Hell (Rom. 6:23a). But, when we obeyed the gospel plan of salvation, and became members of the church of Christ, we were brought back to life (Eph. 2:4-6). Now, we have the hope of an eternal home in Heaven (Heb. 6:19). Now, we have the wonderful gift of God's grace (Rom. 6:23b).

 

When we "quit" the church, we give up all that we gained, when we became members. People seem to forget that, when they quit the church, they also quit the Lord, for the church is the very body of Christ (Eph. 1:22,23). Outside the church, there is no hope of salvation (Heb. 6:4-6). According to Acts 20:28, Jesus purchased His church with His own blood. How could anyone ever believe that they can possibly win the favor of the Son of God, while rejecting the church that He died to establish (John 14:16)?

 

Christians must understand that, while others may disappoint them, Jesus never will. One of the biggest reasons why people become discouraged enough to want to "quit" the church is that someone disappointed them. I have heard brethren complain about offenses as serious as an elder who made advances toward another man's wife, and as silly as the brother who said, "I didn't like the way


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