The "Core" Members
In most, if not all congregations that I have worked with, preached meetings for, or just briefly visited at; a segment exists among the saints who are generally referred to as the "core" members. This is not a social distinction; it is not an unscriptural organization inside the local church - it is a description of folks whom the church would be in a destitute position without. "Core" members are the fabric which tends to hold local congregations together.
Merriam-Webster defines "core" as:
a central and often foundational part usually distinct from the enveloping part by a difference in nature ...a basic, essential, or enduring part... (1)
Some folks in the Lord's church are "foundational" and "essential" to the continuation of the work. Sadly, without these "core" members, some congregations would quickly dwindle away to nothing.
Consider some characteristics of a "core" member. They:
- are at every assembly possible (Sunday, mid-week, gospel meetings);
- prepared for and participate in Bible class discussions;
- share in responsibilities (ie. cleaning meeting place, preparing communion trays, teaching Bible classes, etc.);
- are excited about and support "extra" opportunities to study the Scriptures and be with brethren;
- gladly participate in outreach efforts in the community.
There are several admonitions from Paul for Christians to excel, to be mature, and wholly committed to the cause of Christ. Hear the apostle:
- Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. (Romans 15:14)
- ...let us, as many as are mature, have this in mind... (Philippians 3:15)
- Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Colossians 1:28)
- ...having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)
(1) Merriam-Webster Online
“Are you a "core" member? If not, why not?”
Paul encouraged the Ephesians to put the Lord and their brethren above all else. Leaders (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors & teachers) are set in place, not to do the work for everyone else, but to equip all Christians "...for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ..." (Ephesians 4:12) What is the desired outcome? That "...we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ..." (v 13).
In the pages of Scripture, we also see references to those who were not mature Christians. Reading Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth, one might conclude that very few were solid in the faith. He wrote:
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people, but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. ...you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (1 Corinthians 3:1, 3)
The Hebrew writer said of some in his audience:
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. (Hebrews 5:12)And again,
...recall the former days... ...do not cast away your confidence... ...you have need of endurance... ...we are not of those who draw back to perdition... (Hebrews 10:32,35,36,39).
The ideal scenario is that ALL members of the Lord's church would be "core" members. That is certainly the desire of the Lord, that we all grow to the furthest extend in our faith. Those who are spiritual, who are presently solid in the faith have a responsibility to help the weaker (Galatians 6:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12:22-25). And, the weaker have a responsibility to grow in faith and knit with all the saints in the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:13-16; Colossians 2:2, 19).
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Answering The Atheist
The Atheist's Complaint:
Was Moses a good speaker? Acts 7:22 says that he was, but
Response:Acts 7:22 appears to be a summary statement of Moses' life. It reads:
And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.
Moses learning of wisdom of Egypt would have taken place while he was being raised in the house of Pharaoh's daughter. There is no indication in the Exodus account that Moses was "mighty in words and deeds" prior to the time he fled Egypt. However, that is a fit description of his activities when he returned to Egypt forty years later.
For argument's sake, let's assume that Moses was a capable speaker while still under the roof of Pharaoh's daughter. After fleeing Egypt, Moses spent the greater part of the next forty years tending his father-in-law's sheep. Forty years would certainly rust any ability that he once had.
When the LORD appeared to Moses and called him to return to Egypt to free the people of Israel, his first reaction was, "Who amm I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children fo Israel out?" (Exodus 3:11). He was not a politician; he was not a military leader; he was not revolutionary - He was a shepherd. From this pint, he proceeds to give God reason after reason why he should not be the one to go to Egypt to bring the children of Israel out.
Among the reasons Moses gives to support his case is that he was not a good speaker. Whether Moses was as incapable of speaking at that time as he states of himself, we do not know. He does use some rather strong language to describe his inability:
...not eloquent... slow of speech and slwo of tongue. (Exodus 4:10)
...uncircumcised lips... (Exodus 4:14-16)
Not everyone is a skilled speaker when they first begin. Perhaps that was teh case with Moses, but the LORD blessed him, and eventually, we see a man who is very powerful in his speech (read his sermons as recorded in Deuteronomy!!)
There is no contradiction.
This article is in response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible.