Jerry C Brewer
Country Clubs are exclusive organizations, catering only to their own members and excluding all who do not belong. One who is not a member has no access to their services, benefits or information. That seems to be the case among some congregations of churches of Christ.
Jesus gave the church its marching orders in the Great Commission (Matt. 18:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-47). Those orders were carried out by the apostles and others in the first century (Acts 8:1, 4), and those orders remain the mission of the church today –“Preach the word” (2 Tim. 4:2). If the gospel is hidden, it is hidden from the lost (2 Cor. 4:3).
In all ages, the church has utilized every means at its disposal to preach the gospel —in writing, as the epistles of inspired men, individually, as Aquilla and Priscilla taught Apollos (Acts 8:24-26), in public preaching, as Paul and Barnabas on their preaching tours, and even to families, as Peter at the house of Cornelius (Acts 10), and Paul and Silas to the Philippian jailer’s family (Acts 16).
Today’s modern technology has provided even greater means of reaching the lost with the gospel. The Northeast church in Elk City preaches the gospel around the world through a website, You Tube, and Face Book. But a look at the websites and Face Book pages of some congregations reveals a “Country Club” mentality. There is nothing from God’s Word to be learned from them. Their websites are closed to the public and require a password from their members to enter and read what is posted, and nothing is posted on their Face Book pages but news for members, or quotes from “theologians.” They cater to an exclusive membership and when they post anything for the public it relates not to the simple gospel of Jesus Christ, but to project a good public relations image.
Th e “Country Club” mentality permeating many congregations is not concerned with fulfilling the Great Commission. It is from a “Social Gospel” perspective, in which the church is viewed as a “service organization” to provide camps, marriage seminars, fun trips for youth, outings for senior members, “trunk-or-treat” giveaways at Halloween, Valentine Dinners, Christmas parties, and dozens of other things which have absolutely nothing to do with preaching the gospel. These are called their “ministries.” But the New Testament knows only the ministry (1 Tim. 1:12).
Why would a congregation that calls itself, “the church of Christ,” hide its teaching from the general public? In some cases, it may be to project a good “public relations image” so no one will be offended. It may also be that such a “Country Club” congregation disdains and abhors controversy. If Jesus had that kind of mentality, He would have never come to earth to teach, suffer opposition, engage in controversy with the devil’s servant, bleed, and die for our sins.
“Country Club Congregations” who cater only to their members are blots on the Holy Name of Christ.
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Source: Jerry C. Brewer. Sound Doctrine. Volume 12, No. 11 May 21, 2017. Published weekly by the Northeast church of Christ. P. O. Box 267, Elk City, Oklahoma 73648. “But speak thou the things that become sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). Comments or Questions about this article may be addressed to the author at: txjch@att.net
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