Sometimes church just [infuriates] me [edited]...

Ha! Got your attention didn't I!  Funny how everyone loves a good church bashing session!

Sorry to dissappoint.  Stick with me though - you're already here so what's the harm?  

I watched something last night that literally broke my heart. I've spent the last few years praying for the heart of God - the ability to see people and situations though the eyes of the Father and not just how I'd see them in my fast-paced human life. Every now and then I get that privilege and last night was one of those glimpses. 

 

Last night, on TV, I watched the heart of God and the feet of Jesus take in a handful of kids that were homeless because they chose to leave their family church. The heart of God said call us mom and dad. I'll be beside you at the hospital.  I'll help you get back on your feet. I'll teach you to drive.  I'll create a place that you belong. I'll give you a new identity. 

So why were tears pouring down my face as I was watching this?  Because this heart was living in a crusty redneck with prison tats that was abetting some of the bad decisions these kids were making - it was not in the church.

How was the "church" represented? By these kids parents who were telling them that they were going straight to hell if they didn't rejoin the "church." Leaders telling them not to bother studying the bible or trying to learn about God because they weren't in that church. Someone from another church stopping by to judge and criticize the man helping them and the choice they were making also telling them they were going to hell.  By mothers who wouldn't allow their wayward sons to come to dinner and parishioners who wouldn't help with medical bills after an accident.

Now before you guys run to the bottom of this post to type 100 comments about how this is not your church, I know it's not.  It's not my church either.  In fact, this was a secluded group that would be happy to be spoken of as "separate."  

What I know though, from life experience, is that those of us who have spent years as "wayward" have believed at times that we were thought of as not good enough for church... and while I always knew deep in my heart that I was loved by God I couldn't help but wonder if some of my former pew mates thought I was blazing ahead full-speed for a place seven times hotter than earth fire. 

The striking contrast in the "reality" I was watching clearly illustrated an undercurrent among more "normal" Christians that is all too common and all too commonly ignored.

Nobody told them He loved them.

Nobody.

Nobody said it isn't about you - it isn't about what you've done or what you can earn or lose.

Nobody said "here's what's right" after "they're wrong."

At least they had the "they're wrong" part figured out.  Ever wanted to crawl through the phone and choke someone on the other end?  I wanted to crawl through my TV set and say, "He loves you."  "You can't be good enough.  They're not good enough.  You can't get there by living right or joining a church.  You can't run far enough or drink enough for Him to stop loving you.  There is nowhere you can go and no one you can sleep with that's too far for his hand to reach."

There's another part of me that wants to scream, "It's not about Heaven and Hell, stop selling people short!" but that's a blog post for another day.

My statement is simple.  For some of us, the holiness cart has been put before the Jesus horse.

Yeah I just compared my savior to a horse, but I'm pretty sure He's okay with it.

I'm not suggesting that we can live a life of sin and cash in our ticket to heaven at the pearly gates.  I'm simply suggesting that there are absolutely no prerequisites to the love of God.  No sins that we must walk away from on our own prior to walking in the doors of church or saying a prayer.  I'm reminding that the love of God is powerful enough and far reaching enough to wrap around us in our worst moments - even when those worst moments don't feel bad because we've been in them for so long. I'm also suggesting that this applies even to Christians.. even to those that know better.

Why is that last line a little harder to amen than the other five in that paragraph?

The changes in behavior in the life of a person are the direct result of time spent with God - the power of the Holy Spirit being allowed to turn our hearts.  They are not our earning of a place in the church, an entry into heaven, or the evidence of our struggle to eek out a Christian existence.  

If I can have permission to speak "christianese" for a moment, we have confused fruit with fertilizer - "because He lives in me" for "I should achieve." 

I had the honor of sharing with the ladies in my bible study recently.  When I was reading the story of an amazing but nameless woman the words of Jesus spoke to my heart... (Luke 7:37)

She was pouring her love, adoration, and worship on her savior.  She clearly didn't belong there.  The religious crowd was whispering about her glaring list of sins.  Y'all she was THAT woman.  There wasn't clothing thick enough to cover up her scarlet letter.  Jesus' words were simple.  "He who is forgiven much loves much." and "Your faith has saved you."

Her act of faith was simple.  She had the courage to come - even when no one thought she was worthy.  She simply showed up - at His feet.  His response?  You people are wrong.  She's got it right. Paraphrased of course.

My question in simple. Do you know how much you're loved?  Do you know that you can just come?  That there is absolutely nothing that can separate you from the love of God?  Have you told someone today?  Have you responded to sin with love?  To an outcast with hope?  Where is your opportunity to be heart, hands and feet?  

My challenge?  Take that moment when you're certain that "They're wrong," that the hammer isn't about to fall on their head and that God isn't out to get them and say, "Here's what's right.  He loves you."

Lead with your Jesus horse... 

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Ephesians 2:8-9  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.

2 Corinthians 3:18  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.