HOW I SEE THE CHURCH

The history of the church is not good or pleasant to look at.  There have been many mistakes and I agree that things need to change and get back on track to what I believe God would want the church to be.  Unfortunately, in times of change it happens that we throw out the baby with the bath water.  I believe this is happening today and the results will be just as harmful to people as we have seen in the past history of the church.  I am offering my humble vision of what I see the church the church can be in these days.

I see the church as a fountain of forgiveness, a realm of redemption, a community of compassion, a city of refuge where it is safe to expose one’s sins, wrong doings, and waywardness.

I see the church as an encourager and enabler of conviction, not condemnation; confession, not concealment; change, not conformity.

I do not see the church as a country club for the comfortable, the content, and the cozy with anything goes.

I see the church as a place to alleviate quilt by alleviating sin, not accommodating it.

 I see the church as a place that does not conform to the world’s standards of eliminating guilt and sin by negating them altogether.

I see the church filled with love and compassion that opens its doors to all sinners and encourages conviction, confession, forgiveness, repentance, and change, and stands by and with those who need to do those things to be right with God. At one time or another that is true of all of us.

True love and compassion don’t overlook or accommodate sin.  True love and compassion help others deal with their sins and then experience the joy of knowing that God will forgive and remember their sins no more.