ephesians 5:27 – when it hurts

There is no perfect church, they say.

But don’t you see? They expect it to be perfect.

Isn’t the Church the light in the darkness that leads us to safety?

Isn’t the Church the place we go to see God’s love? Even if we don’t think there is a God?

There is no perfect church, they say.

But don’t you hear? They expect you to hear.

Isn’t the Church the ears in the darkness that loves through our pain?

Isn’t the Church where we go to hear God’s love? Even when we don’t say the right words?

There is no perfect church, they say.

Gifts. Purpose. Destiny.

Carry the torch and advance the kingdom for God. They heard.

Some were not chosen. Where is your tenacity?

He had tenacity. But he was not chosen.

Hear the cries of sorrow and suffering. God does.

There is no perfect church, they say.

God sees. God hears. God is perfect.

But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect, God says.

Why don’t you love what you don’t like? Why don’t you turn the other cheek?

Why do you expect conditions when you say God is unconditional?

There is no perfect church, they say.

There is persecution.

All who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

There is judgement.

For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God.

Which one?

That is why scripture says: God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.

Choose perfect. Choose humility.

Choose love because it is patient and kind.

Choose love because it is not proud.

Choose because you watch for our souls.

Do you see?

Do you hear?

God does.

I watched a news program today about the Christian baker who will not bake a cake for a transgender. He was the baker who was in the news some time ago who did not want to bake a cake for a gay couple getting married. He said it went against his Christian faith.

During the program, a woman who was part of a panel said she used to be a Christian. She left Christianity because of this very thing and she did not “find Christ among the Christians”. She brought up the women who was accused by the Pharisees of sexual sin and how Jesus defended her. He who is without sin cast the first stone. That was loving your neighbor and clearly, the baker was not loving his neighbor.

It’s a shame, isn’t it? And I completely understand.

Without Jesus there is no Christianity. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength; and the second commandment is love your neighbor as yourself.

There are no excuses. I have grown to dislike the statement, “well, there is no perfect church”. It sounds too “get-over-it” when, in the name of love (1 Corinthians 13 – love is patient and kind) people who are angry or hurt at an injustice they see deserve care.

Love is supposed to be the core of Christianity. It is the essence of who God is. He loved the world, knowing our desperation without atonement for sin, that he came down to earth in the form of a man and took the bullet for the rest of us.

It’s sad when people leave Christianity having “not found Christ in Christians” because it’s not God’s fault.

I know what it’s like to feel the disappointment, betrayal, and pain of being hurt in a faith that should be loving.

Yet, God tells us to forgive.

When we don’t forgive, then aren’t we not loving our neighbor?

The Church has been advancing throughout the centuries. The Bible refers to the Church as the Bride of Christ and says that Jesus cleanses with the washing of his word, to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish … she will be holy and without fault.

We are not there yet.

After seeing many Jews stop following him, Jesus asked his twelve disciples: Are you also going to leave?

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Is there any other place to go? If so, where will it ultimatley lead you?

If you did not see Christ in Christians, then see Christ in the Bible.