Look Beyond The Exterior
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” -- Matthew 7:3
The newspaper reported that the denomination’s numbers are down. Fewer baptisms. Fewer members. It looks pretty dismal. It would be easy to proclaim that Christianity itself is on the decline. I don’t think it is. In fact, it seems that more and more people are seeking God.
So what gives? Maybe it lies with the modern-day Pharisees who inhabit some churches. They’re so busy judging who can join and who is worthy, that they’ve forgotten that all of us are sinners and none of us are worthy.
One church makes a really big deal about how a person is baptized. Sprinkled need not apply -- unless they’re willing to be dunked. As you might imagine, a person who was baptized by sprinkle might be a little unhappy to find that they’re rejected based on water levels rather than sincerity of faith.
Or what about the church with the pastor who preaches on how you should dress at church. Repeatedly. Some of the older folks nod in approval but all he’s really managed to do is push away the very people who need to be in church the most -- the young people.
Another church took the opposite approach. The members saw their numbers declining and decided to change. They started running adds that said, “Jesus wore sandals. You can too.” Now the adds promote “Come as you are.” The church’s attendance has soared. People are seeking a place of acceptance and they found it in God’s house.
Jesus didn’t turn anyone away because of how they were dressed or what they had done. He didn’t look down on people and judge them unworthy to share His Presence. Instead, He ripped down the walls and offered salvation to all who believed. How can we do any less?
No comments:
Post a Comment