Articles
The Voice of the Few
When we think of the apostles, either Judas or Peter first pops into our minds. Judas often gets the most attention, but why? Why does Judas get most of the attention among the twelve? Why do we focus on the one who went his own way instead of the eleven who followed Christ? Even Peter deserves better attention than Judas. At least he repented and, when he turned, he strengthened his brethren. Again, why does Judas get more attention than the eleven who faithfully followed the Lord?
For example, take a congregation of four hundred where the greater part is faithfully living their lives, striving their best to serve the Lord. They are present in season and out of season. They teach Bible classes when no one else will step up and do it. They are present at workdays. They are at the hospital when someone is in need. They just diligently try to serve the Lord and their brethren. Then comes the one or the few. That one or those few who are not nearly as involved. They will not teach and if they teach at all, it is seldom. They rarely help others. But their voice is loud. They get the attention. No matter the issues, the problems, or the challenge, their voice is loud. But they contribute little else to the whole.
It seems the good the greater part does have little value. Those who fail or complain get the greater part of the attention, but it doesn’t have to be that way. It is that way because we let it be that way. What if we spent more time acknowledging the eleven who did follow the Lord? What if we spent more time recognizing their value and what they contributed in the overall progress of the gospel? What if, in a local church, the influence of the greater was more than the voice of the few or the one?
Let me suggest how this can change. It can change when make the change. It is not hard. We just stop letting the voice of the few have the majority of the airwaves. Every time those few speak up and tell us how bad things are, stop them. Tell them that is not true. We can’t let the lie go unchallenged. Look at all the good the greater part is doing.
For everyone who is problematic, there are exponentially more whose voice is not heard because they are doing what they should be doing. They don’t need to be heard. Their actions speak for them. None of us know what others are doing. There is more good being done than we recognize.
It is not only among God’s people that this happens. It happens in our nation as well. Whose voice is heard? Those who are the loudest. But they are the few. They contribute little to the nation except to foment strife and confusion. Their number is small. But this nation has much more good about it than the voices of the few. America is the “Last Best Hope” (Abraham Lincoln). Ever notice that no one leaves America? More and more want to be here. If everything is so bad, why do they keep coming?
It begins with me. It begins with you. Let’s stop letting the Judases, the few who have the loudest voices, be heard. Let them do their shouting, objecting, and creating strife. Let’s start to pay more attention to the eleven or the greater part who are doing the work.
I love this church. I love God’s people. Yes, we have flaws. But we are the redeemed. We are God’s chosen because we chose Him. I love the United States of America. She has her flaws and spotted history for sure. But this great land of the free and home of the brave, has given us the freedom to assemble to worship our God and the freedom of speech to be able to preach the gospel every Lord’s day. Now, go match it with some other nation! That nation does not exist!
May God continue to bless this church and His people everywhere. And may God continue to bless America.
Rickie Jenkins
