Dear Facebooks Friends, I need to repent.
I am disappointed and angry with the church that meets in America. I don’t repent for my anger or disappointment; my anger and disappointment are justified. I repent for my response.
My response has been to disengage, to blame, to fault find, to ridicule. That has not been a biblical response.
I have spoken to many Christians this season who have expressed disappointment in the Church that meets in America. And like me, they have thrown their hands up in disgust and walked away. Some from the church but tragically, some from their faith altogether.
So how should we respond?
If the Church that meets in America were a personal friend, I would call out the gold within my friend. I would remind my friend of their identity in Christ. I would love my friend to truth. The Church that meets in America are a collection of our friends.
When Jesus was angry at the practices of the temple, He reminded them of the purpose of the temple:
“He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.””
Mark 11:17 NLT
I am not saying you should go to your local church next Sunday an over turn tables. But I do think we should over turn hearts with love and grace while reminding the Church that meets in America of who we are.
So my Dear Church that meets in America you are:
The Bride of Christ – beautifully adorned, redeemed, loved.
Strong – the gates of Hell shall not prevail against you.
Loving – you love as you have been loved by the Father.
Forgiving – you forgive freely as you have been freely forgiven by the Father.
Welcoming – you are a refuge for all people. People run to you and are confronted with the love of Jesus.
A voice of Justice – you protect the poor, the foreigner, the fatherless, the widow.
Hands and feet – you feed the poor and hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprison.
Inclusive – you have put on Christ. Therefore you are no longer separated by Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, black or white, Republican or Democrat. You are one in Christ.
Powerful – you lay hands on the sick and they recover, you speak prophetically, you love unconditionally, you cast out demons, you are protected from danger, you preach the gospel to the poor, you set the captives free, you are not reliant on any political party because your King is eternal.
Generous in mercy and grace.
Hopeful in times of trouble.
A refuge in the storm.
Friends, if you are disappointed in the Church that Meets in America, join me in reminding our friends who they are. Remind them of the atoning work of Christ is enough. Don’t disengage. Don’t fault find. But love others to the truth. Start with your realm of influence.
“He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.”
Ephesians 5:27 NLT