One of the greatest tragedies plaguing the church of our Lord today is the ever increasing number of Christians who are content to “watch from the sidelines.” Consider a profession football game to illustrate this idea.

There are players and coaches who practice day in and day out, laboring and toiling, and then risking harm and injury for the sake of the team and the victory. On the other hand, there are the fans who are content to sit on the sidelines murmuring and complaining at every fumbled play, mistake, or bad decision made — as if they could have done better. While this might be acceptable for a professional football game, such things ought not to be so in the church.

In the church there are those Christians who labor, toil, struggle, volunteer, and give all they have for the Lord. They serve Him with all the fervor, zeal and faithfulness their hearts can muster while others are content to come “warm the pews” once each week — yet claim the right to murmur and complain about the rest of the events from the sidelines. This is not only disgraceful, it is tragic!!

In Revelation 2:15-16, the Lord rebuked the lukewarm Christians of Laodicea. He said they were neither hot nor cold, therefore He would vomit them out of His mouth. This does not bode well for those who manifest the same disgraceful attitude today as they “watch from the sidelines.”

In Nehemiah 3:5, the Bible speaks of the Tekoites, who rose up with Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. This passage also tells us that while some of the Tekoites labored, “their nobles did not put their necks to the work of their Lord.” This causes one to wonder if there are some in the church who feel they are “of nobility” and do not need to take the yoke of Christ upon themselves (Matt. 11:28-30). Whatever the motive, excuse, or rationalization, this is a prime example of “watching from the sidelines.”

Are you one of those content to “watch from the sidelines?” Are you content to avoid active participation in the work of the local church—the work of the Lord? Do you criticize things taking place in the church yet do nothing to make them better? Are you one who does not want to involve yourself in the affairs of the local church because you have suffered some harm in the past for doing so? Are you one who sees brethren in error, but is content to watch them walk the path to hell? Are you one who leaves worship every Sunday morning, only to get in the car and begin complaining about the church? Are you one who thinks your presence in the assembly once per week will save you? Are you one who does not participate in Bible studies and thinks they are of no use anyway? If so, then you might be guilty of “watching from the sidelines!”

Do you take an active interest in the business of the church? Do you take an active interest in the well-being of your brethren? Are you laboring daily for the Lord? Are you contributing to the upward and outward growth of the church? Are you attending every service and Bible study of the church? OR, are you “watching from the sidelines?”

When it comes down to it, those who watch from the sidelines here in this life, will certainly be watching from the sidelines in the time to come as well. Unfortunately, it will be from where the rich man looked upon Lazarus—across a great gulf in torment with no possibility of relief (read Luke 16:19-31).

Friends, the church needs laborers—not sideliners. The church will only grow when we combine our efforts to save souls and edify one another. The church will only grow when we all put our hands to the plow. Let us all gear-up with the whole armor of God and begin laboring together for the cause of Christ today!

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