Church Right Now - Where 'right' is up . . .

THERE IS THAT thing I have observed most of my life that I will call 'Church Culture.' Church Culture is that attained view of community and life once someone has found faith in Christ and become part of a local church. Life soon begins to revolve around the church and we assimilate its activities and events into our daily life and routines.

THERE IS NOTHING inherently wrong with what I just described - its called community and fellowship. However, the downs-ide occurs when that model becomes exclusive and we become a microcosm of the 'rest of life.' In short, church culture withdraws from society and the fold/flock is the scope and realm of our reality overlooking and ignoring the needs that are right before us..

CHURCH CULTURE is that mindt that is preoccupied with us having good church experiences without giving thought to the countless numbers of souls who may never darken our doorways if we are not intentional about building bridges and connecting with them. Several years ago, Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote a song, the title is, 'My House is Full.' The next part of that tag line is: 'But my fields are empty.' The lyrics then asks the question, 'Who will go and work in the fields today? It seems my children, all, want to stay around my table but no one wants to work in the fields today.' That really kind of sums it up.

ONE SUNDAY afternoon Mary Gaye and I were late leaving the church. She was downloading some audio files and it was taking awhile. It was nippy outside, naah, it was downright cold outside. After a while a young man knocks on the door. He was probably six feet 4 inches tall, wearing all black and cut-off shorts as well. I went to the door and welcomed him inside. In short, he was hungry and needed a ride.

AS WE TALKED we were making our day towards the church kitchen where I knew we had some great leftovers. I fixed him a nice plate of turkey, dressing gravy and the like and he was soon completed. After a few minutes of chatting he asked me why I was treating him so well. I asked him why wouldn't I. He said it was because of how he looked which also caused people to stand aloof from him.

HE EVENTUALLY asked for a ride to a shelter. Then he asked to be able to play in the pool. I offered to drive him to the shelter and he then asked that I call the police to take him. After convincing me that was the thing to do, an officer showed up. Rather than being cold or disconnected because of the young man's appearance, the officer took it in stride and treated him with the utmost respect and courtesy and offered to take him to the shelter.

THE ROOT of the word 'Religion' means 'to bind.' Religion, man's interpretation of what he thinks the Gospel should say, is far too often lacking on love, forgiveness and acceptance. The acceptance I am referring to is NOT the acceptance of someone's sin but the acceptance of that person as having so much value and worth that Christ died for them - totally. That kind of acceptance really opens up the entire Harvest whereby EVERY single individual matters not only to God but also to us. They do not matter any less because of their political affiliation, their particular sins or their rebellion against God. They matter because they are breathing and have an eternal destiny awaiting them one to be shunned and the other to be pursued.

JESUS DID NOT judge by the sight of His eyes or the hearing of His ears. He judged righteously which was lived out in Him Who came to seek and to save that which was lost.

#faith #hope #forgiveness #Christ #church