Avoiding The Real Problem

One of the most vocal opposing viewpoints that I’ve encountered in my pursuit of the truth about church and my recovery from being burned by it is this:

“God loves His church, and anyone who speaks against it better watch out!”

I agree wholeheartedly with the first part of the previous quote, so I guess it isn’t an opposing viewpoint at all. God most certainly does love His church, and so do I! If anyone assumes that I am speaking against the church, I’d suggest that they might be making too quick a judgment, jumping to defend the church from a perceived threat while avoiding the real problem. It’s easier to maintain the status quo, then risk doing something different, and venturing into the unknown.

My intention is to strengthen the body as a whole, to bring healing to the weak and injured members on the outside.

So who or what is this church that God loves?

I believe that when God looks at His church, He doesn’t see bricks and mortar, altars and stages, sound systems, rock bands or fired up preachers. He doesn’t see contrived programs or services or a leadership team striving for bigger and better things. When God looks at His church, He sees people. He sees our hearts. He sees a living, breathing community of people whom He lovingly created, whom He knew before each one took their very first breath.

All of the things that we’ve put up to make us look bigger and better, our God facade, gets stripped away, and we are naked, covered in His love alone.

For the most part I’ve been treated with love, enjoyed respectful dialogue and encouragement as I journey towards restoration after suffering devastating pain in church.

If the title “Churchburned” offends you, than you are offended by the real truth of a very painful situation. Sure, I chose it because it would stir people up. A controversial title is great marketing. But the fact remains, people have been hurt in church. The question is, what are we going to do about it? Bury our heads in the sand and ignore their pain? Alienate them until they make their way back, apologizing, with their heads hung in shame? Or perhaps we should just leave them there, upping our evangelism efforts to fill their now vacant seats?

I hope not.

As a recent outcast, I’m reaching out to the hurt ones, to the lost ones, to the ones on the fringe.

I love His church. I never said I didn’t.

If my blog and upcoming book offend you, then it isn’t for you! Don’t read them! I’m engaging and addressing my writings to a group of people who’ve been hurt by the church and swear they’re never going back. A group of people who consider writing God off in the process of dealing with their pain.

As a Christ-follower, I’m choosing to follow Jesus as he leaves the ninety-nine to reach out and save but one.

Look at it this way. If someone has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders off, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine and go after the one? And if he finds it, doesn’t he make far more over it than over the ninety-nine who stay put? Your Father in heaven feels the same way. He doesn’t want to lose even one of these simple believers. Matthew 18:12-14 MSG