One afternoon in particular we went down to the Civil Rights Museum. If you are ever in Atlanta, you must stop here. There is so much to learn and see, and it was great to offer this perspective to the youth. On our way back to the church for the evening we happened upon a church that I had to take a picture of:
FINALLY, I found it! This is something many people have searched for all their lives...and here it was, in Atlanta!
I feel like the people that attend this church must wear gold capes and really subscribe to the following:
1 Peter 2:9-109 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
No seriously, this is a real church and I mean no disrespect to them (I actually don't know anything about them). As a pastor this is something that made me crack up only because I have experienced the deep pain (yes, I take it too personal) of someone leaving the church I am serving. I have lost a lot of sleep over people who are angry or not satisfied. I understand the sinking feeling when you know someone is upset or angry, yet you have no clue the best way to show them compassion. And yes, my personal favorite, I know what it is like when someone has a complaint, writes it down, but just doesn't want to sign it, lest we actually have the opportunity to work through the issue. (Insert sarcasm here). These kinds of things can wreck you if you dwell on them at the expense of the good and affirming parts of ministry. These same things can really break apart a church, people settling into "camps" and unwilling to work together. (see: US Government if you don't know what I mean about camps.)
This is when "The Perfect Church" shows up. It is new, it is exciting, it is FUN. The children's programming is amazing. The youth have their entire Bible memorized. The adults square dance and take wine tours. Everyone is happy. The preacher really speaks right to me! The organist never plays a wrong note, and the choir sings my favorite songs! It is perfect!
I want to go there too, don't you? The thing is, we are not called to be perfect, we are called to be moving on to perfection. This is something John Wesley talked about, meaning that process through which we grow to be more like Christ and less like "me." Some of veteran church folks might talk about this in terms of sanctification, or the process of continued growth in the love of God over time. After we get to know Christ I think this process takes over because we simply cannot avoid sin without the help of grace.
Back to this:
1 Peter 2:9-109 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
It would be a wonderful thing if we actually did realize the depth of what this Scripture is saying.
Let's try it in The Message version:
9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted."
Got it? YOU'VE BEEN CHOSEN! You've been grafted into the very family of the one who created you! Your value in this family is immeasurable, and your job is to live it out as best you know how.
This isn't a call to perfection, it's a call to be real. It isn't about guilt, it's about receiving forgiveness. To be honest, I think it IS about putting on our "capes" and living a life that claims connection with the Most High!
Are you living a victorious life or are you stuck in the cycle of works-righteousness? Are you free to be you or trying to fit the mold, like everyone else? Are you strutting around like a superhero, filled with the power of God? If not, take some time to think about what stands in your way.
And, if you're like me and have never really been a part of "The Perfect Church," may we all be encouraged that the people chosen to do God's work throughout all of Scripture were less than perfect. From Abraham all the way to Peter, we meet regular people just like us. The glory of God shines brightest when we realize just how imperfect we are...Thanks Be to God!
Great sign....I must use that some time. tks
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