Our Church

             

  Sitting in a men’s bible study, the question was brought up about “our” church accepting everyone.  That got me thinking about the old phrase that the church is a hospital for the sick and hurting.  But really is “our” church really a hospital?  Do we really accept people when they are at their lowest point?  Or do we pay them lip service and tell them we will pray for them. 

                As the church, we are suppose to be Jesus to a hurt and sick world.  We should have signs erected that have the simple verses from Mathew written on it.  It should read “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Mathew 11:28-29)  The church should be the hope that Jesus was while He was on earth.  We should be there when members and non-members alike are hurting and have nowhere to turn. 

                But to many times in today’s world, the church is the first to condemn someone for their misdeeds.  Paul writes in Romans 3:22-24, “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  In other words, everyone that enters a church has been a sinner at some point in their life and need Jesus to save them from their sin.  So why do we distance ourselves from other sinners?  Are we afraid that their sin is worse than ours?  Sin is sin and there are no degrees of sin.

 I know that most of the people that sit in the pews every week have never killed anyone or didn’t use drugs before walking through the doors.  But they may have told their kids that they could go somewhere after church when they had no intention of allowing them to go.  They told a little white lie.  None the less it was a LIE.  There is no difference in the type of sinner that enters the church.  The murderer and the little white liar are the same in the eyes of God if they don’t ask for forgiveness and correct the actions.  God is the only way to get forgiveness for our sins and we “the church” should help all that are separated from God. 

I pray that “our” church is accepting of all that enter the doors and are looking for help.  We don’t have to put on rose colored glasses and be taken advantage of, but we need to be loving and open to others that are in need.  We need to take the time to learn about each other and learn how we can help each other.  We don’t need to say that we will pray for someone, we need to lead them to the altar and pray with them.  “Our” church is losing the battle on being a hospital to the world.  It is time for “OUR” church to turn the tide and accept people where they are in their life.  Is “our” church ready for an influx of new patients?   Are you prepared to be a doctor or nurse for Christ?