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[Note: <\/strong>This MS is available in larger font on our \u00a0Brief Articles 1<\/strong> page.]<\/span><\/p>\n One day years ago, my two boys, Andy and Hal, were in the back yard playing with a neighborhood playmate, I was clipping grass in earshot of their conversation, being carried on as they played in the dirt. After arguing over who was going to make use of the two digging tools available, 4-year-old Andy finally resolved the matter by declaring, \u201cAll right, you be the diggers, and I\u2019ll be the watcher.\u201d Thereupon he assumed a comfortable position and began watching\u2014and telling them how to do the digging.<\/span><\/p>\n As amusing as it seemed at the time, I have often thought since of how typical this scene was. There are those in every church who are content to be the \u201cwatchers.\u201d They think the \u201cdigging\u201d ought to be done all right, as long as someone else is willing to do it. Christians ought to be engaged in such things as winning souls, giving liberally to support the Lord’s cause, living righteously before their fellows, and taking advantage of each worship and study period for spiritual growth, but the \u201cwatchers\u201d somehow feel that they don’t personally have to be concerned with such things. \u201cSomeone will do what needs to be done,\u201d they seem to think. And thereupon they assume a comfortable position as a mere spectator.<\/span><\/p>\n But many \u201cwatchers\u201d are not content to watch in silence. They somehow seem compelled to tell the \u201cdiggers\u201d what is wrong with the \u201cdigging\u201d that is being done. Has it ever seemed odd to you that often those who have so little to do with a congregation\u2019s program of work are often the very ones who set themselves up as critics of the same? They may know just what the church needs to do, but just try getting them to do it!<\/strong> It is much easier to tell others how to do something than to do something.<\/span><\/p>\n The \u201cdigger\u201d might as well prepare himself for criticism. No one has ever set out to accomplish anything without being criticized. What churches are commonly most criticized? Those that have dared to think, plan, and act \u201cbig<\/strong>.\u201d What is true of churches is true of men. If you don’t want to be criticized, there is only one way to live\u2014be a \u201cwatcher\u201d\u2014don’t do <\/strong>anything!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong> I wrote this article for and it was published in the Colorado and Jackson Streets Church of Christ Reminder, <\/em>San Angelo, TX, June 9, 1967.]<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 0[Note: This MS is available in larger font on our \u00a0Brief Articles 1 page.] One day years ago, my two boys, Andy and Hal, were in the back yard playing with a neighborhood playmate, I was clipping grass in earshot of their conversation, being…<\/p>\n