Who would you like to be at church with you? If you’re like me, you’re comfortable with folks that look, act, sound, and relate like yourself. It’s our comfort zone because it doesn’t take any spiritual effort to hang out with people exactly like us. But maybe our high expectations need to be adjusted in light of the ones who’ve been a part of God’s church much longer than you and me.
LET'S WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBERS
Let me introduce you to some potential new members at your church. First, a man who disobeyed God along with his wife and caused billions of deaths. Next, another who had an affair and it was his wife’s idea. Also, a man who was a murderer and misrepresented God’s power. Another man who was a coward. Then, a guy who conspired to have his mistress’s husband killed so he could cover up his affair with her after he found out she was having a his child. Oh, and one dude who had more than 700 wives and mistresses. Not to mention a guy who publicly denied Jesus and then later split God’s church because he reverted to the law and tried to mix it with grace.
Now, what if all of these people came forward on a Sunday morning to join you at your church? What would we think? How would we feel about these new additions to our churches?
CONSIDER THE CHURCH THROUGH HISTORY
Before we answer, let’s consider the Heroes of our Faith. Adam disobeyed God along with Eve. Abraham had an affair and it was Sarah, his wife’s idea. Moses was a murderer and misrepresented God’s power. Elijah was a coward. David conspired to have his mistress’s husband killed so he could cover up his affair with her. Solomon had more than 700 wives and concubines. Peter denied Jesus 3 times and then later during his ministry tried to mix law and grace together just to please some Jewish elders.
None of the sins I mentioned above are ok. I don’t want it to seem like I’m green-lighting sin. However, if each of us stood before God’s people with all of our personal sins listed on the video screen above us, we’d feel a lot more in common with the folks I listed in this article.
JUDGEMENT VS. LOVE
My point is very simple. No church of God should resemble a country club. God has called us to reach the world for Him. We have to judge sin, but Jesus said “do not judge people.” If we’re loving folks for the Lord, we’re less likely to confuse the two.
RELATED: Why Christians Should Counter “Compassionate Lies” with Truth in Love
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
Remember, God loves you, and God has a plan for your life!
