But I feel compelled to write this. God has put this on my heart and I can't shake it.
When did the church forget our calling? When did we decide it was ok to become dictators to/slaves of social norms? When did we stop being a church of outcasts and forgiven sinners, and become the church of the middle class and 'good' people? When did we decide that we were going to ignore our call to 'the least of these', the tax collectors, the prostitutes, the criminals and the untouchables? When did we decide that we were better than everyone else and could act so high and mighty?
I know there are lots of churches who run soup kitchens, homeless shelters, prison ministries. And these are good ministries which deserve to be applauded. They are doing good work.
But if a pregnant teenager walked into your church, would she be greeted the same way you would greet a family of 4? Would the homeless man in the dirty coat be offered a cup of coffee just like the guy in the $1000 suit? Do you tell your child to stand by the gay child at school, or do you tell him to stay away?
When did we forget that we are the same as them, except that we know we have been forgiven solely by the grace of God? Is the blood of Christ sufficient only for our lying, cheating, hating, murdering, lusting, idolatrous soul, but not theirs?
If you are yelling at anyone but other believers who have defiled the church, you are not demonstrating Christ's love to the world. Who does Jesus get angry at? The Jews who turned the temple into a market. Who does Jesus show compassion to? All the sinners the 'good' people hated. He protects an adulterous woman from being stoned. Just talks to the woman living with a man who is not her husband, and offers eternal life. Eats with the tax collectors and prostitutes.
If you say that you would never do something so horrible as that, whatever sin you find particularly abhorrent, remember that in the eyes of God, a sin is a sin. Full stop. No nice gradation. Hating someone is the same magnitude as killing them. Looking at someone with lust is the same as fornication. Every day, in word, thought and deed, we sin and fall short of the glory of God. Why should I be acceptable for only lusting, and the pregnant teenager be reviled for actually fornicating? Only because we can see her sin. Secret sins are ok, so long as we keep them secret. But that is an entirely human perspective, not one of God. God sees everything, and my sin is just as deadly as her's. But Christ's blood is sufficient for me, and it is sufficient for anyone else. The quality of mercy is not strained.
The church needs to stop yelling, and start setting the table. The first literally, the latter both literally and figuratively. We need to stop turning our backs on the people who have the most claim on us, for Christ's sake. We need to offer comfort, protection and love. Not hatred and signs and things to throw. What if instead of screaming at women going to abortion clinics, we offered a coffee, a listening ear, a different path? Defended the teenager being bullied, for whatever reason? Stopped the drunks behind the bar from beating up a guy who looks different? Gave as much to Salvation Army to help save people and get them back on their feet as we did Starbucks for a cup of over roasted coffee with over priced milk and sugar?
What if we learned to eat with the tax collectors and prostitutes?
I think it would look a lot more the like the wedding feast of the Lamb than we like to admit.
I know there are lots of churches who run soup kitchens, homeless shelters, prison ministries. And these are good ministries which deserve to be applauded. They are doing good work.
But if a pregnant teenager walked into your church, would she be greeted the same way you would greet a family of 4? Would the homeless man in the dirty coat be offered a cup of coffee just like the guy in the $1000 suit? Do you tell your child to stand by the gay child at school, or do you tell him to stay away?
When did we forget that we are the same as them, except that we know we have been forgiven solely by the grace of God? Is the blood of Christ sufficient only for our lying, cheating, hating, murdering, lusting, idolatrous soul, but not theirs?
If you are yelling at anyone but other believers who have defiled the church, you are not demonstrating Christ's love to the world. Who does Jesus get angry at? The Jews who turned the temple into a market. Who does Jesus show compassion to? All the sinners the 'good' people hated. He protects an adulterous woman from being stoned. Just talks to the woman living with a man who is not her husband, and offers eternal life. Eats with the tax collectors and prostitutes.
If you say that you would never do something so horrible as that, whatever sin you find particularly abhorrent, remember that in the eyes of God, a sin is a sin. Full stop. No nice gradation. Hating someone is the same magnitude as killing them. Looking at someone with lust is the same as fornication. Every day, in word, thought and deed, we sin and fall short of the glory of God. Why should I be acceptable for only lusting, and the pregnant teenager be reviled for actually fornicating? Only because we can see her sin. Secret sins are ok, so long as we keep them secret. But that is an entirely human perspective, not one of God. God sees everything, and my sin is just as deadly as her's. But Christ's blood is sufficient for me, and it is sufficient for anyone else. The quality of mercy is not strained.
The church needs to stop yelling, and start setting the table. The first literally, the latter both literally and figuratively. We need to stop turning our backs on the people who have the most claim on us, for Christ's sake. We need to offer comfort, protection and love. Not hatred and signs and things to throw. What if instead of screaming at women going to abortion clinics, we offered a coffee, a listening ear, a different path? Defended the teenager being bullied, for whatever reason? Stopped the drunks behind the bar from beating up a guy who looks different? Gave as much to Salvation Army to help save people and get them back on their feet as we did Starbucks for a cup of over roasted coffee with over priced milk and sugar?
What if we learned to eat with the tax collectors and prostitutes?
I think it would look a lot more the like the wedding feast of the Lamb than we like to admit.
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