Which of the Lord's commands is most neglected by his people today, and what is most sorely lacking and needed among the churches in our part of the world? Oh! sorry I asked! If you could all just quieten down for a minute, I'd like you to consider with me one most sorely neglected command:

"Encourage one another daily"
(Heb 3:13)

The Gesthemane Problem

There are a lot of lonely, frustrated, disillusioned, and demoralised people in the churches of Christ. That's not because they have a personality malfunction, but because the church in some cases lacks the heart and strength to encourage them day by day.

I call this the "Gethsemane problem". You remember, don't you, that Jesus was praying in the garden, as the hour of his cruel death drew near. He was in agony, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling upon the ground. Who was there to encourage our Saviour? "An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him." An angel from heaven! What of his earthly friends, his mortal brothers? "He found them sleeping from sorrow" (Lke 22:43-45). The disciples were so discouraged and upset by the events unfolding, that they were unable to encourage the Lord when he needed strength.

There is a similar malaise among us today. One becomes so discouraged in oneself, that one is unable to encourage another. Therefore the very thing that is needed, namely to "encourage one another daily", is failing to be done. As a result, the discouragement becomes worse. We must break this truly vicious circle, else it will surely break us.

The New Testament Word for Encouragement

The New Testament word for "encourage" is parakaleo, which means to entreat, appeal, exhort, urge. My own ministry has, for many years now, gone under the name of "Urge Ministry" --from the above word parakaleo. The word consists of two parts: para means beside or with, and kaleo means call. So parakaleo means literally "to call alongside".

Many Christians are reluctant to "exhort" or "urge" one another because they think it involves some kind of confrontation. But exhorting, and urging is not about confrontation. It is about "calling alongside". It is about encouraging. It is an attitude of, "I am with you; come with me; let's press on together."

Who Needs Encouragement?

Everyone

Everyone in the church needs encouragement in some way. The elderly may be concerned at changes made by the next generation of Christians. Young people may find difficulty in relating basic gospel teaching to the humanism they encounter in higher education, the ethics of the business world they enter, and the "New Age" beliefs of their friends. And, of course, the poor, the weak, the lonely, the sick, the abandoned, are always with us. They need to be visited with encouragement day after day. It takes everyone to engage in a sufficiency of encouragement in the body of Christ. The term "one another" implies everyone encouraging everyone else.

Some specific groups also come to mind who need encouragement...

Church Leaders

Church leaders need daily encouragement. Instead they often get all kinds of obstacles and frustrations...

• the refusal to appoint elders and deacons for proper church organisation and government
• over-emphasis upon mutual ministry without due regard to vocation and ability
• the practice of giving token support instead of proper wages
• the expectation of work performance without the necessary programs and facilities in place
• a constant undercurrent of opposition for no clear reason
• a lack of respect and esteem

These are not the universal experience of leaders and preachers in churches of Christ, yet these problems are not unknown.

Church Women

Church women need daily encouragement. The Lord has made every woman of God a "king", a "priest", a "son", an "heir" of heaven (Rev 1:5-6, Rom 8:14-17). I cannot think of any stronger way that the Holy Spirit could tells us that in the church of Christ men and women are equals. Instead it is the common experience of women in the churches of Christ to be dominated, silenced, marginalised in the ministry of the word, not consulted in the business of the church, expected to submit to men who won't sacrifice themselves in return, and made to feel that the "weaker vessel" is the inferior and not the finer vessel. It is time women were freed from this oppression and encouraged to take up their rightful partnership and the ministry God has given to women. Though it differs in some respects from the ministry God has given to men, it is by no means a lesser ministry.

Christian Neighbours

Christian neighbours have a special opportunity to "encourage one another daily". In some cities, however, Christian neighbours don't visit one another during the week, and on Sundays they drive past the local churches preferring to meet in some distant suburb, spurning their local brethren, or having been spurned by them. Visiting other churches to encourage them, and be encouraged by them, is a good thing in its time and place. But it is outlandish that supposedly "local" congregations tend to be composed of non-local people, because Christians in the same neighbourhood avoid fellowship. That is both a symptom and a source of great discouragement, to the Lord and his people.

Optimistic About Encouragement

I may sound oddly pessimistic about encouragement, but not so. I have spent more than thirty years in the ministry among churches of Christ in Australia. Like any other preacher, I've had some rough treatment and some difficult times. On the other hand I have been well encouraged and supported by faithful brethren.

Even if others are not encouraging you, there is no need to give up your faith and ministry...

• Firstly, the Lord Jesus never lets you down, so he is always a source of encouragement. Have faith in him. (Heb 13:5-6).
• Secondly, your own assessment of yourself and your ministry is a constant source of encouragement. Don't measure yourself by the negative assessment, and false standards, of poorly motivated people. Be honest with yourself, and find a true and realistic standard to measure yourself and your ministry by (2Co 10:12).
• Thirdly, don't look for encouragement from others, but rather look for others to encourage. Don't withdraw, but widen your circle with care, and you'll find people who will appreciate your encouragement, and in turn be a source of encouragement to you. Then you'll be the Hebrews 3:13 sort of person.

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