Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. Hebrews 3:12
A pastor knows when he looks out over his congregation that there are some who do not believe. We know this if we’re in a smaller group within the church where you are aware of who attends because of his wife or his parents, or is dutifully attending to keep up appearances, or who plays an instrument or has a great voice, or is compelled to go in the best interests of his or her children. The bar is not too high to walk in the doors, and in modern churches, who’ll keep you out? Certainly not those nice people at the door! So verse 12 is a fair and needful warning.
The fact that the word “brethren” or “adelphos” in the Greek is used here is not code that all in attendance were in the fold. The writer could have said “church family.” I’ve known of people in attendance, as the passage suggests, who are “perniciously evil,” actively not passively. It makes sense then for the writer to issue this warning with an ingratiating countenance but knowing full well of the presence of wolves amongst the flock.
He says in so many words, while I have you captive in the seats, even though you may stand shoulder to shoulder with true believers and sing a hymn as you would an alma mater, the national anthem, or a bar song, you actually “stand aloof” (aphistemi, “fallen away”) from the living God.
In times of corporate prayer as your “side hustle” in the pews, spend the time devoted to praying for all those within earshot of the preacher who need to be struck by the spirit of God to enable true belief.
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