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What a Body . . . Warts and All! -- Pt. 2

Having lived in a pastor's home for all thirty-three years of my life (preacher's kid turned preacher's wife), I think I've probably heard just about every reason why someone has become disgruntled and decided to walk away from a particular church. 

While some are legitimate reasons that are worthy of a change of scenery, some are lacking in merit.  Here are just a few from both sides of the spectrum:
  • It was always too hot/cold in the sanctuary.
  • If you weren't born and raised in that church, you'll never be fully accepted.
  • They kept asking me to serve on committees or teach Sunday School.
  • I don't agree with the way they spend money.
  • My child didn't fit in with the other kids in the youth group.
  • Their music was too loud/fast/slow/dull/traditional/contemporary.
  • The pastor's preaching wasn't Biblically accurate.
  • The pastor was always preaching on sin and salvation.
  • There always seemed to be a spirit of dissension among the church body.
I must make myself stop because, unfortunately, I could go on and on!  If there is one thing that I would tell someone who has walked away from a church for any reason whatsoever, it's this:

THERE IS NO PERFECT CHURCH.

The truth is, just as soon as you or I step foot in the building where the church meets, it gets even more imperfect.

Hear me when I say that problems are nothing new to the church!  A very short time following the inception of the New Testament church, divisions crept in and various problems arose.  Honestly, some of the issues they dealt with then aren't much different than some that churches are still dealing with today.

On Paul's second missionary journey, the church in the Greek city of Corinth was established.  Within a few short years, he was burdened to write his first letter to this church to address various issues of concern.  The church in Corinth had problems with divisions among believers, arrogance, immorality, lawsuits between believers, idolatry, and civility during worship, just to name a few.

Remember the imagery that I shared with you yesterday from the book of Ephesians where Paul compared the church to a physical body.  Well, he uses this same picture here in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. He reminds the Corinthian church that they are one body with many parts which requires working together for the good of the whole. 

"But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.  If they were all one part, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many parts, but one body."  1 Corinthians 12:18-20

He also reminds them that no part (person) of the body is indispensable (12:21-22). Do you know what that means?

THE CHURCH NEEDS YOU!

Unless God has clearly guided you away from one particular body of believers (and I believe He chooses to do this on occasion), His plan for you as a Christian is to be fulfilling your role within the body of Christ. 

So . . .  am I asking you to just completely brush your past experiences with the church under the rug and jump back in head first?

Not necessarily, but I do highly encourage you to seek God's guidance in this matter.  Ask Him to guide you to the church that He wants you to be a part of.  Perhaps there needed to be a change in where you choose to worship regularly at, but please don't forsake the church as a whole.  Your brothers and sisters in Christ need you . . . and you need them, too.

I am so very thankful for the church . . . warts and all!

*Please share this post with fellow believers who might need to be encouraged to give the church another chance.*



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