I have seen the term Radical amputation when it comes to avoiding sin.  The Bible says if your eye causes you to sin, to pluck it out.  If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.  The idea is whatever is in your way of your walk with God to toss it away, cast it aside, throw it away, bury it in the past.

The term for the church today could be “TRAGICAL” amputation.  I heard a somewhat modern song that has an old-fashioned message.  It asks the church today,

“if we are the body
Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way”

I think there is in most of the church a vast difference in what we say and what we do.  Our arms are cut off from helping, our hands our tied up, his words can’t penetrate our hard hearts of unbelief and worldliness, our feet are stuck on ourselves, and His love is too demanding.

The Bible says in James 2:15-16, If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of  you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Hmm, depart in peace.

We say instead, “I’m praying for you!”

Today if we called the average church member at 3 am and said, “HELP!  We are trapped on the 3rd floor about to be engulfed in flames!  Can you drive over with your firetruck and rescue us?”

“I’ll be praying for you!”

And then they instead go back to bed.

1st John 3:16 says Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

We are fine if others lay down their lives for us.  We expect that from the military, we are glad Jesus did that, we are semi-thankful when our spouses do that or if someone we love does.  But we are to also lay down our lives for those we don’t agree with, when it’s not the best timing (3 am!), and when it costs us something.

But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in DEED and in truth. (verses 18 to 19)

In other words, do not say to someone who is out of work, “I’m praying for you!” or appear helpful by saying, “If you need anything, let us know”.  The very people that are a blessing to everyone will often not let you know.  God is supposed to let you know but the church isn’t listening because today the leaders treat everything as a one way street.  Unless it is a long plane ride to another country where you can write home and tell everyone how God used you on the Mission field.  It isn’t as glamorous if you drive 15 minutes to a hurt couple’s house or bring food to a church member’s house.

Folks,  the church needs to see we are asleep.  We might wake up a minute to whisper a simple empty prayer, but then we roll back to bed.

I’m praying for you!