A time to Be the Church...

If there is one thing that makes my heart unleash the tears of emotion, it's how the church sometimes deals with their wounded.

Pointing out their wrongs and trampling the already down and out.

I cry over the brokenness of the woman getting a divorce. The one who feels as though her life is under the microscopic scrutiny of judgemental eyes. Shifting over her every decision.

I cry over the addiction of the husband who still struggles with pornography because all the "programs" aren't working and the people who know of it wonder why he can't just "stop".

I cry over the bound up children who have parents more concerned about rearing their behaviours in order to make themselves look better. Rather then taking time to minister to their impresionable hearts that are aching for an environment of authenticity.

It's no wonder they walk away from church. The hurting ones, aching for love and grace.

Living in a fear of hypocrisy and misunderstanding.

Could it be that we are more concerned with maintaining a facade, quickly tidying things up, instead of engaging in the messy?

We need to receive people where they are at, while helping them fix their eyes on Jesus, not their struggle.

It takes absolutely no faith to point out someones wrongs, flaws, or faults. But it takes an boundless amount of faith to look beyond the external behaviours, circumstances, and sin and show others with our actions and love, a grace which is limitless.

I want to be someone who isn't simply chasing after the representations of God, in a self-sufficient mode of life, but someone who is actually chasing after God.
Like the prostitute running for her redeemer.

I want to be the church who stands with the accused, because they are the ones who understand that there is NO accusation for those who are in Jesus.
He died for our sins. All of them. Past. Present. Future.

Even the ones we haven't committed yet are covered by His scandalous saving grace.

You see, it is grace that exposes the root of the issue without excusing or ignoring it. Grace doesn't care how it might appear to others since grace is the bigger picture. Grace creates a community knit by love rather then performance. Grace is what heals the wounded.

If Jesus welcomes the broken and busted, the fallen and hurting with His open arms of mercy, shouldn't we?

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. ~ Galatians 6:1-3