Issue #3720 Hate The Church?
Hating the church is all the rage these days, even for Christians. I understand it, I have done my own share of venting about the dumb things Christians have done over the centuries and some of the evils that have been perpetuated in the name of Jesus (although that was often the excuse rather than the underlying reason).
The crusades. The inquisition. The so called "Moral Majority". Homophobia. Racism. Narrow mindedness. Hypocrisy. Bludgeoning people with cultural change rather than the gospel. Being dogmatic about unimportant issues. Twisting scriptures out of context. Sexual sin in the church. Opulent church buildings next to starving people.
I mean the list just goes on and on and I am frequently running into people who object to the church on one or more of these grounds.
Let me be the first to agree. All these things are wrong. The people of the church have been guilty of all this and more.
Let us however not forget all the good the church has done. Hospitals. Schools. Social programs. Science (yes science ... many of the great scientists have been believers acting on their faith). Feeding the hungry.
We forget that the church is not designed to be perfect. The church can never be perfect. That does not excuse our mistakes, we must acknowledge them, repent of them and where possible make amends for the things we have done.
The church is a bunch of people who know they are far from perfect trying the best they can to follow a perfect God.
As flawed as we are, the church still is the place where people encounter Christ and have their lives transformed. The people of the church do countless works of love and service.
More importantly though is that the church is the Bride of Christ and it is his chosen means of bringing the truth to a lost and hurting world. I love Jesus so how can I say I hate His bride?
Love for the brothers, that is, love for the church is a sign of being a follower of Christ.
1 John 3:14-15 (ESV)
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
I am under no illusions that the bride is perfect, but I love her warts, wrinkles, flaws and all, because my Lord loves her. How about you?
Kevin
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that heaven will not be complete without you.
Help for the Hurting
Do not worry that the church is not perfect. If perfection was the standard you could not get in anyway (nor could I). Put the excuses on the shelf and give your life to Christ. He is your hope of freedom.
If you want to know how to do that simply email us and we will send you some Bible verses that will explain it to you.
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