Taking people where they are

Who is qualified to go to church?

This morning at prayer meeting, the 4 of us talked about what made our church special.  We have had plenty of visitors recently and some of the comments have been very encouraging.  One person commented that this is a church where we take people as they are.

We take people as they are

One of our visitors had a lot of problems with "organized religion" but one of our prayer members commented he had too - get in line.

We've got an interesting group.
Sometimes it's hard.  It would be easier if everybody came to us already perfect - but then I couldn't be a part.

One of the most difficult teachings of the Bible is that we are not the wonderful, perfect, good-hearted people we think we are.

We have a sin problem.

This is not a small issue. We love to make excuses. Often, we blame circumstances. We say things like, "If only they hadn't done or said ..., then I wouldn't have ..."

I didn't mean to - is a lie

Other times when we are caught or confronted by our sins, we say, "I didn't mean to ..."

The reality is that almost all of our actions are intentional. Someone asks us a question we find uncomfortable, and we make up an excuse - usually a lie.

In fact, when we are doing something we know we shouldn't, we even plan out our lies.

I'm going to give a personal example here:

There have been times when I was speeding on the highway and at the same time I was planning out the excuse (lie) I would say if the police pulled me over.

Thankfully, I haven't had to put that plan into action - but I admit the plan to lie was going through my mind.

So who is qualified to attend church?

Everybody! Because the church doesn't exist for perfect people. It exists for people to worship God, to hear the message of the Gospel, to encourage people to repent of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ, to encourage people to grow in their sanctification.

If you've skipped church because you aren't good enough - you're not understanding the Gospel.

As the Apostle Paul said, Jesus Christ came to save sinners - and then he identified himself as the chief of sinners.

So, go to church and worship God. Go to church and repent. Go to be encouraged in your walk with God. Go to church!

This is pastor John, Christ is still king!

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