Last Sunday, a friend attended his local church and was disheartened at the main points of the message. The service leader provided a sermon that was full of what NOT to do and how to SCORN those who have made or continue to make "poor" choices. My friend listed the points and his disdain for the negativity, which made my blood begin to boil. But the comments that followed were what moved me past anger, to utter sadness. The comments were also filled with contempt, but the overall thought was, "And THAT is why I do not go to church anymore."
Now, what religion it was or where it was does not really matter. I have regularly attended Baptist, Methodist, Greek Orthodox, Catholic, Pentecostal, and Non-Denominational churches and not one of their Bibles ever taught avoidance and/or hatred.
Jesus, himself, did just the opposite. He loved in spite of one's past and protected those who were different. That is what church is supposed to be! How did our society miss this? How did the gap between how Jesus "did" church and how we currently do it become so grand in size? As I read the words of my acquaintance and of those I do not even know, I came to understand that this fact, truly, saddens me.
Church should be grace, and not judgment. Church should be acceptance, and not prejudices. Church should be support, and not shirking. Church should be a place of laughter, fun, and fulfilment, not a place of dread, pain, or requirement. Church, simply put, should be love; not a place to gather to review our abominations of others.
Well, at least that is what I learned that church is...and that is what the bible says church is....so, hence my assumptions about how, we, as the church are supposed to act. I have a church like that. In fact, its belief in church being a community is so strong, that it actually has the word "community" in its name.
I am so blessed. My children are so blessed. For, this is a place filled with laughter, support, missions, entertainment, worship, ministry, guidance, and oh..so..much...love. Do not misunderstand me...it is not a place where all reality is hidden and everything is smiles and parties. Although fun and humor often prevail, that is not real life, not authenticity. And church is always a place to be authentic. Being authentic, means telling the truth, not allowing wrongdoings, and sometimes, unfortunately, stepping on toes. But when this is done through the church, through community, it should be done, not through anger or hatred, but through grace and love.
THAT is the difference that makes a church, a place where one WANTS TO BE at and a church, a place where one dreads.
You do not ban someone from your church because they are considering an abortion. You guide them, you support them, you TELL them, but you love them all the same. You do not look on with disgust at the person who had an affair or clings to alcoholism. You offer advice possibly, but you always love them through it; irregardless. This is what my church did for me...and does for others. The poor choices of my past were not what defined me, the creation of who I am in Him, did. My church, the way God Himself intended church to be, loves and supports your community, all of your community, 100%. Real church remembers that tough love is still, indeed, love.
My concluding thought on this topic is that until I read those words of those strangers, who had felt judgment, I had forgotten that not everyone knows the utter peace that flows through a person when they know the love of Jesus through a community-filled church. I guess I do not understand why one would continue to go to a place where they are not valued, challenged, and loved. Clearly, I, also, forgot how people do not know how precious and amazing they are in the eyes of my Jesus.
But, now that I recall that not everyone is that lucky, I will begin to pray harder and to serve more, so that every last person is given the opportunity.
The opportunity to love Jesus in a real, true, authentic church and to feel His love through it all.
Trust me, it is a chance that no one wants to miss out on.
And to all of those that have felt the ripping pain of judgment from "Christians" who claim to define love.... I apologize for the hurt and I beg of you to give 'church' another shot. Just look for the ones who, undeniably, love like Jesus did...and still does.
Disclaimer: I must thank Powhatan Community Church, especially the leadership of Brian Hughes, Beth Stoddard, and of course, Sammy Frame. Their passion for the church, the community church, is inspiring.
