Church Dirt

When I walk into church I can't help but think that something seems wrong. I am constantly surrounded by suits, dresses, fancy purses, and expensive shoes. I look around and notice that I am standing in a building that costs more money than I will ever see in my lifetime and a building where someone with dirty shoes would not dare to enter. I look around and I see a lack of people who Jesus would have sat down and ate with, the types of people Jesus spent most of his time talking to. I can't remember the last time I saw a prostitute enter into the church where I was attending because to my knowledge it has never happened. Where are the murderers, the thieves, the sex-offenders, the ostracized, the outsiders, where are the homeless? We have kept the doors open for those who we feel safe around, those who we can feel comfortable around: the adulterers, the liars, those who covet, those who are slaves to greed, etc. How many homeless people attend your church? How would they be treated if they did? Would you introduce your children to them? Would you invite them to sit with you? What about a prostitute? A convicted felon? Are we not called to love and to forgive? Should we not make our places of worship, places where they would feel comfortable entering? Church should not be safe? If you disagree you need only read the New Testament to find evidence that this is true. We are not called to make church a safe haven from the evils of this world or even from those things that make us uncomfortable. We are to bring in those who are struggling and to love them and to participate with God in a transforming process that may change us more than it would the people who came seeking hope and redemption. Church should not be a place we go to get dressed up but stripped down. Stripped down to reveal the sinners that we are. Stripped down to reveal that we are no better than the prostitutes, the thieves, the murderers, the men and women who have no place to call their home. Church, is where we should be reminded that our only true worth is found in Jesus Christ.

Judged Accordingly

I was born and raised in a church home. We went to church every Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. I was raised under the direction of the Bible. So what does that mean for me on judgment day? Do I get judged exactly the same as someone who was raised by atheists and raised to hate God? I don't believe that it does. The Bible makes it clear that different people will be judged by different standards. For instance, if you choose to be a minister of God's word the Bible says that you will be judged more harshly. When we say that God has a "giant ruler" and everyone has to reach the same point on that ruler I believe we are insulting God's intelligence. I believe that God judges people according to where they are and the opportunities that they have been given. That does not give the child raised by atheists a get out of hell free card. I believe that God reveals himself to everybody in one way or another and then it is up to that person whether or not they will choose to believe. However, the child who was raised as an atheist will have a much more difficult time trying to adapt his or her lifestyle to the way of God than someone who was born and raised to know what's right. They will each have their own challenges and therefore their journeys will be different. What it really all comes down to is this; there are people living right now who will never even hear mentioned the name of Jesus Christ. However, God does say that He reveals himself to these people through nature and other ways. These people will never hear of baptism or partaking of the Lord's Supper but I believe God says there is a way for them to be saved. No I'm not saying that they will be saved apart from Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, I'm just going to let the scriptures speak for me here. This scripture is written to those under the old covenant but was still written by the same God that will judge us under the new covenant and at the end of this scripture the writer says something that ties everything together. "..it is following the law that makes one right, not just hearing it. For instance, some outsiders who are not required to follow the law often live quite naturally by its teachings. Even though the law wasn't given to them, in themselves they have the law. Here's the thing: their lives demonstrate that God has inscribed the law's teachings on their hearts. On judgment day, their consciences will testify for them, and their thoughts will both accuse and defend them. This good news given to me declares that this affirmation and accusation will take place on that day when God, THROUGH JESUS, the Liberating King, will judge every person's life secrets." (Romans 2:13b-16) Even those who have not heard may be saved THROUGH JESUS based on whether or not they followed what God put on their hearts. God judges our lives. Not our baptism. Not our service projects. Not our childhood. Not our adulthood. He judges our lives and what we did with what He gave us. To those who have been given more, more will be expected. In the end it's not up to us to decide who is saved and who is not. It is up to us to be Christ to all and let God take care of the rest.