We are quite used to speaking of "Pilgrim's Progress." With this term we mean the pilgrimage of the Christian "from strength to strength" (Psalm 84:7) and "from faith to faith" (Romans 1:17). But what about the "Office Bearer's Progress," the "Minister's Progress," or the "Church's Progress"? Paul says of the church at Thessalonica, "your faith groweth exceedingly" (2 Thessalonians 1:3). He speaks to Timothy about progress in the ministry. He urges him to diligently continue the ministry in the church "that your profiting may appear to all" (1 Timothy 4:15). In other words, Paul wishes that his progress or growth might be visible to all.

Many think regress or degeneration is unavoidable in the church of God. Some shrug their shoulders in passivity. Others separate themselves mentally and emo­tionally from the church and focus on themselves. Is it really possible to speak about progress in the church of God? The following are various ways to view progress.

We need to look at the congregation in light of God Himself in His Word. He loves her. His eye is upon her. His promise is for her and her children. When we see the congregation in this light and we are convinced of these realities, we will look with different eyes at her sins and shortcomings. When we realize that God is moved with compassion for His church, we will receive a compassionate heart that is characteristic of the shepherd's (1 Peter 5:1-4). If we do not regard the congregation the way the Lord regards her, but if we instead wish to organize her after our own ideas, we will have a hard time, for then the church becomes our cause. If we wish to drive the church into just one direction, we will cause the church to be troubled, and we divide her. We need to keep in view the church as "the flock of God" (Acts 20:28) feeding "in green pastures," and "beside the still waters" (Psalm 23:2).

We need to be profoundly convinced of the all-surpassing and inexhaustible significance of the Word of the Lord. We need to concentrate on the Word of God and bring its teachings to the fore. There is the tendency on the part of the congregation to talk about the minister of the Word rather than the Word itself. We need to train ourselves to have insight into the Word of God for growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). We need to be more and more uncovered, converted, comforted, corrected, instructed, assured, in order to grow and rejoice in our spiritual life. The Form of Ordination of Elders and Deacons says that "the elders are in duty bound diligently to search the Word of God, and continually to be meditating about the mysteries of faith." It is our task as elders to point the congregation to the promises and the claims of the Lord, because He commits Himself to the congregation. This goes for young and old, for the family, for life in the world, catechism classes and school.

We must guard against the abuse and neglect of the sacraments. Alongside the great gift of the Word, there are the two sacraments that have been given as signs and seals of the promises of God. They are administered in the midst of the congregation in order that she may understand more clearly the promise of the Gospel and have it sealed. Apart from the Word the sacraments have no content. They point the eye to the salvation God works and they proclaim it to the ear. The sacraments serve for the heart to more firmly embrace the promise of the Gospel. Everyone who belongs to the congregation is confronted with the question what these signs mean to him or her personally, just as the Word confronts them. The congregation is addressed as a whole, but everyone must personally come to understand it.

There often is an easy and superficial use of baptism. Parents talk about it as if it were something for the children alone. Instead, it witnesses to the whole congregation and it has personal significance no matter how long ago it was that we ourselves were baptized.

There often is the easy use or non-use of the Lord's Supper. It is our task to point out the Scriptural way. Some families or members may need an additional visit during the two weeks before the Lord's Supper celebration. You do not need to drive people to the Lord's table. You are to point them to the significance that the Lord has given these signs and seals of His covenant of grace.

Finally, we must hold to the communion of the saints. It is of great significance how the single family and the single sister or brother are oriented and attuned to this communion of saints. It is not rooted in sociological relationships, whereby one simply feels unity. Neither does it rest in the fact that we like one another and we feel so cozy. The local congre­gation is not a communion of saints because we all agree with each other in everything. As we make our visits in the congregation, we need to keep this point of the communion of the saints in view. It is of great importance for the life of the congregation.

Some have only criticism of the communion of saints because others do not do what they want them to do. Some take a negative attitude by staying away from the communion of saints. They do not realize that they withdraw themselves from the bond of fellowship with others, which the Lord has worked as benefits given to His church. They refuse to work to promote the communion of saints. It is impossible to experience this communion by oneself while taking a negative attitude to others. The communion of saints is essential for the wellbeing of the individual.

Are we as office bearers able to bring about that the congregation understands the rich benefits the Lord gives to His church, so that the congregation desires and learns to live out of them? No, the Lord keeps the glory of progress in the church to Himself. But we are to understand and teach how necessary, rich and fruitful it is for the congregation to know this progress and to live out of it in a truly spiritual way. When we do that, we may expect the Lord to bless our weak effort. Sometimes we may see something of it, and if not, "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD" (Psalm 27:14).