TODAY IS…

a superb day to embrace the flaws of your church.

“But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.”  Acts 6:1 NLT

Embrace the flaws of your church? Why in the world would anyone want to embrace flaws?

Some of us search constantly for the “perfect” church, but the simple reality is this: as long as humans are involved in anything, perfection is impossible because we are flawed.

No perfect people means no perfect church.

Every church in every town, in every country, has problems. Granted, the problems each church faces are different because the people in each one are different. While it is important to find a church that we are comfortable in, it is equally important to make sure that we focus on the qualities and attributes of a particular church rather than on what we may perceive its flaws to be. Our search should be about what is right and not what is wrong.

Of course, the first concern should be does it teach the Gospel? Once the quality of the teaching is established, other things should be looked at as well: Do the members welcome strangers and help them feel like ‘insiders’ as opposed to eyeing them, basically ensuring that they remain the ‘outsiders’ that they are? A church does not have to be built of expensive materials or be brand new, but does it reflect love and care in its level of maintenance? Can it be readily ascertained that one of its primary functions is to spread the Gospel and to serve others?

Answering ‘yes’ to these few questions should provide you with all you need to feel comfortable in a particular church. If it has the ‘yes’ factor and it is convenient to your home, don’t complicate things by looking for flaws. There will be flaws, so be prepared to embrace them. Be prepared to do your part to correct them if possible, as well.

Differences of opinion will occur in any situation where there is a decision to be made and more than one person involved. Paul worked diligently to encourage the members of the Corinthian church. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10 KJV).

Accomplishing what Paul was stressing is easier said than done, but differences are what create opportunities to see other ways of looking at things. The important thing is to not allow minor differences to be construed as major flaws in the church as a whole. It is the responsibility of each of us to pray for guidance and to pray for those around us. Asking God to help fix the flaws is preferable to jumping around from church to church. So, instead of jumping around, jump in and embrace the flaws of your church.

*******

Taken from “TODAY IS….A Gift From God”, (C) 2013 Tony Casson