WHO'S MINDING THE STORE

by Charles Robey
(Trussville AL)

(Remember that old Jerry Lewis flick, "Who's Minding The Store"? Jerry is a poor boob named Norman, a really nice guy, honest, hard working, and would do anything for anyone. Especially
for his girl. His girl (Jill St. John) is the heir to a big chain of department stores, but she doesn`t want Norman to know this. She wants to make sure he loves her for herself, not because she`s rich. So she orders the store manager (Ray Walston) to hire the boy and give him every dirty impossible job he can think of. The result is disaster after disaster and laugh after laugh. Thus, Who's Minding The Store.

So, who’s minding the Christian Church store? That’s easy, the store may be minding itself.)

The first answer, that comes to mind, is the church pastor. After all anytime a problem surfaces, of a religious nature, the first comment you hear is, "let the preacher do it". "Or, it's the preachers job".

This comment is based sometimes on (Acts 20:28). I realize the pastor is the store overseer, but we Christians are the store clerks. In other words, we should be helping the pastor sell the store goods, which is the full gospel. (1 Cor 15:3-4)

However, as born again and saved children of God, we all are responsible to spread the gospel, be it in or out of the church, aside from the special duties of the pastor. (Matthew 16:15-16) (John 21:16) (Revelation 12:11) (Matthew 28:19-20)

This theory started with the new early day church, and it has never stopped. (Acts 2: 41-47)

So, the duty of a Christian store keeper is to be ministers of the Gospel of Christ in Love and Grace. For without Love we can do nothing. (1 John 4:9-11) (1 John 4:7-8) (1 Peter 5:6)

In minding the Christian store, first we are required to walk daily in fellowship with the Lord (Colossians 2:6-7) (Hebrews 12: 28-29). After all, if we are not walking in the will of God, how can we instruct others to walk worthy. (Deuteronomy 7:9)

In minding the Christian store, Christians must chime in with all spiritual activity such as, praying (1 Chronicles 16:11) (Ephesians 6:18) (Psalms 118:25) and joining in the singing of praise and worship songs. (Psalms 95:2) (1 Cor 14:15)

In minding the Christian store we should also be open to the Bible instruction through teaching by the pastor. (Ephesians 4:11) (1 Peter 5:1-5) (1 Thess 2:3-12) (Gelatins 6:6) (1 Timothy 5: 17-18)
In minding the Christian store, tithing is not only scriptural but necessary to reach out to the unsaved. (Luke 6:38) (2 Cor 9:7) (1 Cor 16:2) Gen 14:20) (Genesis 28:20-22) (Malachi 3:8-10) After all, it is more blessed to give than to receive. So, don't miss out on that blessing.

You may call me an old "dinosaur" , if you please, but I still believe in that "old time religion" . That is a church which still has an "old fashion alter", whereby we may go to confessing what we have done wrong and receiving God's forgiveness. (1 John 1:9) (James 5:16) (Matthew 6:12-15) Yes, the alter sets a good example, in minding the Christian store.

I can still picture my "preacher Daddy" walking back and forth in front of that old alter, the mercy seat as we use to call it, singing encouraging choruses as people "prayed through", as we use to call it. Yes, you can tell I miss those old days. That's what you called really minding the Christian store.

Well, I hope you caught the jest of what "Minding The Store" really means in the Christian community. Unlike Jerry Lewis, serving the Lord has never been a disaster. So, if you have not tried, go for it. (Ephesians 2:8-9) (John 3:16) (Romans 10:9).

May God Bless You!