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If It Was Up To You, Would Eastside Close Its Doors? (slightly edited)
Every year hundreds of new businesses are started here in our community. The Chamber of Commerce gladly reports on these new ventures in an effort to demonstrate that our local economy is healthy and growing. What they don't report quite so openly is that nearly an equal number of businesses close their doors each year. Why do these businesses fail? It's really very simple. They just do not offer services or sell products that appeal to a sufficient number of customers. In short, they go out of business because the buying public is generally apathetic about their continued existence.Whether we realize it or not, we are giving our vote as to whether these businesses succeed or fail. We do it when we make the choice to patronize a particular business or to trade elsewhere.
We wonder if certain church members realize that a similar situation exists in local congregations. Some folks show an apparent apathy towards the continued existence of the church. They may attend occasionally — perhaps even most Sunday mornings. However, it is just 'too hard' for them to make the Bible study hour and they never return on Sunday evening. Wednesday night assemblies are absolutely out of the question — they're entirely too busy, too tired, etc.
What these folks are doing, whether they know it or not, is giving their vote to "close the doors." If it was left up to them, no one would assemble and no work would be done. Are you one of these people who are trying to put the church out of business? Think about it!
