The Church: Friend or Foe??

This is what was going through my mind as I saw this on the marquee of our church. God surely does have a great sense of humor, doesn't He? 

 

Christianity From The Outside (July 2007)

We call ourselves christians for all the world to see.  We run around with Bibles preaching love and forgiveness and acceptance for all. We talk of God's saving grace - a gift available to all.  Christ is the center of our lives - is our call.  <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />Lets stop and take a step back and view ourselves from the eyes of the world.  Do they hold us in as high regard as we hold ourselves to be? If we were to be honest with ourselves the only answer we could say is "our lives are built on lies".  Sunday mornings the church pews are filled, maybe even overflowing.  People mill about, singing and praying, hugging and kissing - the best of friends it seems.  "Wait - what is that I see coming through the doors - a visitor - oh no, what a chore. Who will go and welcome them?  Not me - you're closer to the door" I hear the murmurs begin almost immediately "We can't welcome them - they don't belong - can't you see that they are not like you and me-they aren't dressed in Sunday's finest-.wait, that man has got an earring..Is that a tattoo that I see peering out beneath his sleeve - can you believe a parent would let their child come to church with hair so very long - what did you say, it can't be true, his parents aren't even wed - oh no, what will we do". The whispers grow louder as the family settles into their pew.  All eyes are resting upon them, wondering what they will do - will they stay or will the go.  Then among the whispers I hear a voice and it sends chills up and down my spine.  The words are so cold and calloused as the voice speaks to those nearby.  "Don't worry about all those petty things that you have seen.  We have much more pressing matters to deal with.  Did you notice the color of their skin - it's not like yours or mine"The service begins and the preaches he preaches - of love and acceptance for all - of loving others just as Christ loves us.  Amens and halleluhias fill up the room.  When service ends everyone jumps up with joy. They hug and they kiss - wishing each other good days and much love.  Out of the corner of my eye I see this family - their heads hung low, despair upon their faces.   They leave the church without a single word of welcome.  We had our chance to show the world that we lived our lives as we said we did.  We failed to do as Christ would have done and now this family suffers for our pride.  I hear them as they walk away with teardrops in their eyes.."This church was our last hope to see if Jesus really lived.  We heard these Christains hoop and holler when they talked of love and acceptance but not a single one of these so-called Christians came to our side.  Not one single smile, not one single handshake, not one single word did we hear. It's as if we didn't even exist  The answer is rather obvious -  Jesus Christ cannot be found in these churches in our town. We're on our own to search Him out.  I hope that we're not too late. "Jesus if You are out there anywhere - please show Yourself to us We won't give up the search for You. We know You're out there somewhere - just not inside some churches"As the week goes on not a single person gives this family any thought  A look in the paper brings them to the forefront of my mind.  The headlines scream "Family of 3 found dead in their home"The cause of death is irrelevant now as it becames so clear as to how much damage we as "Christians" may have done.  The family came looking for the love of our Lord.and we failed to display it to any of the three  We had a chance to give them the keys to eternal life and we never even tried.  On each of our consciences should be this horrifying thought "3 souls may have been lost to Satan and the fault lies upon our shoulders."  We need to start living out the words that we preach from our altars.  If only our lives reflected His Word, just think of the impact on all who have heard. Lord, help us tear down the walls that we've built up within our churches.  Teach us how to love the people You put into our path. Help us stop all the fighting within our churches. Help us work on ourselves and not focus so much on pride. Help us start living our lives so people will see the love of Jesus in what we say and do.    Let others see Christ when they start looking in.  Help match our inner selves to the the outer one we portray  May all we do help You.  Lord, show us how to live with "True Christianity"