10/01/25 DON'T BE AN ELF ON A SHELF

10/01/25 DON'T BE AN ELF ON A SHELF

If it was not for active "elves" (i.e. Christians who humbly do the needed work of the church in the quiet of night, behind the scenes and without fanfare), some of God's work would not get done.

In fact, there is much of God's work that does not get done.
There are too many "elves on shelves,"
too many "benchwarmers,"
too many "commentators" sitting in the broadcast booth,
too many "self-appointed (unofficial) referees" running on the field,
too many "spectators" tunning-in to be entertained,
too many "guests who are sitting back," wanting to be served by the "help,"
too many "on the dole," letting someone else foot the bill,
too many "fans, who cheer and whine" about the performance of the actual players.

Anyone and everyone can be and can do what God wants them to. God does not require more from us than we are able to give (since with His calling comes His enabling). God will enable us to do His will and when we do His will, He will impart greater opportunities and responsibilities, accompanied with greater power, wisdom and grace.

Occasionally God either assigns someone or allows someone to serve in a less active condition (because of health or age), but He has a purpose, even for this. Do not miss your opportunity to be active in Divine service. Do not miss the adventure of being a co-worker with Jesus.

The local church was (and is) God's intended channel to reach this world and to build believers, but nominal "Christians" (in name only) have caused parachurch ministries to rise up and do the work of the local church. If it is a ministry, which God gave to the local church, then your church should be able to do it independently or in cooperation with another likeminded body of believers.

God's will has always been to use the local church, His Body, His Building, His Bride, but often the local pastor is not leading, or the church is not following Jesus, and sadly the work is left to an individual, which (at best) results in the formation of a parachurch organization. Sometimes those parachurch organizations become local churches. The work of parachurch organizations is a good work, but it is not the original plan of God, and therefore it is inherently limited. The one behind local church failure is the Prince of Darkness. He knows how effective a Biblical church can be, and he would rather deal with anything than the perfect plan of God.

I have much more to say about the positive and the negative aspects of parachurch organizations. But my intent in this post is to point believers back to Biblical ministry, Biblical Christianity, Biblical relationships, Biblical responsibilities, Biblical accountability, Biblical opportunity.

Make sure you are the part of the body God wants you to be. Don't be apart from the body.