I have been to a lot of churches in my life: different denominations in different areas. Because of this, some have called me a “church-hopper”. It doesn’t hurt my feelings. I know why I am hopping. I just wish others knew why.
As I travel, I see one thing that seems to ring true in just about every church I have been in. There are some that just want control; and there are some that just want to follow Jesus. Somehow, the first group overpowers the second, most of the time not even in numbers. They are just loud, and in efforts to quite them down, they get the attention and get their way. Kinda like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum.
I have been in churches during “break-ups”. I am very sad to say I have been in more than one when this occurred.
I have seen a pastor invite the chairman of the deacons to “take this into the parking lot so we can solve it like men”.
I have seen business meetings held to vote a pastor out that had more people in attendance than had been in the church for years. There was snow and ice on the ground, yet every member (shut-ins included) was there to voice an opinion. Imagine how the world would be if we had revivals with those numbers!
I have seen a deacon stand up in church and refuse a new member (who tearfully made a profession of faith) because “she’s just joining so she can vote the preacher out”.
I have seen a long time church member stand at the altar, in front of the pastor, shaking her finger in his face and telling him “this church was fine ‘til you came along”. There were even some expletives involved in this one.
Recently, I have seen members of some churches usurping the authority of the pastor, spreading rumors and causing upheaval.
And I can say that I have been guilty of participating in some of the gossip, slander and non-Christlike attitudes in the past.
I don’t know about you, but I am tired of it all.
I want to go to Church!
Yesterday, as I was writing in my journal, something completely unplanned came out. And I want to share it with you today:
Dear Church,
The time has come to make a decision for Christ.
Move forward or die.
Become a light on a hill for the lost to find, and for the faithful to gather for the Lord’s work and to worship Him.
Be the Beacon, shining the light of Jesus Christ into a lost world, a lost country, a lost state, a lost county…a lost community.
And when they come, and they will, love them into the Church with the love of Christ.
Guide them with God’s Word.
Direct them to the Truth.
But do not hate them in their sin, for they are exactly what you used to be - lost and bound for Hell. But they long to be what you are now - a sinner saved by grace!
Show them the grace and mercy that God has shown you, through His Son Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ shed His blood for ALL. Not for those who deserve to be forgiven, because none are - all we deserve is Hell and death and eternal punishment.
But God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to be whipped, beaten, scourged…and to have His Creation spit in the face of their very Creator.
And to be nailed to a tree.
Many wear the name of Jesus who have no idea who He is or what He wants His Church to do or be. They use it for selfish means, to feel important in an organization that they think they can have control over.
But that’s not Jesus
And that’s not the Church.
Jesus is God Almighty, the most Holy, Emmanuel, come to save us!
And the Church is His Bride, that He bled and died for, and will come again to take to Heaven with Him.
Don’t cheapen His grace by continuing to sin. Don’t replace Scriptures with Christian clichés. Scripture says, “Because it is written: Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16)
Don’t spit in the face of His mercy by thinking you know it all. The Holy Bible is your guidebook; God’s plan is to grow each one of us to look more like His Son.
Don’t be a glutton at His table, gulping down His Supper while you have ill feelings toward those around you.
Don’t treat His Bride like a harlot - paying your tithe and giving your money, thinking you can use Her for your own pleasure.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7
We should come as faithful children, gathering at the feet of our Father to worship together and love each other.
To grow into the image of Christ.
To reach out to others with the love of Christ.
And to share the Gospel with as many people as we can, not just handing them a tract, but showing them with our lives that God is real! That we believe His Word and live it out every day!
Are you ready, Church? I am!
