My Struggle

There is something I have been struggling with. It's getting to the point that it is the first thing on my mind when I wake up and the last thing on my mind before I go to sleep.

There are people who come to churches who have issues. Did you know?

People who have mental illness. People who are addicted to pornography. People who are filing bankruptcy. People who feel unloved. People who are searching.

So many of us get all dressed up on Sunday- we smell good- we look good- we feel good. We want to go to church and we want to sing some songs that make us feel good. Hear about a God who loves us. We want to smile at people and maybe get a few hugs.

Then it happens.
That person comes in- they look a mess, they smell bad, they are crying and very upset. Is that alcohol on their breath??
Or- then we see the guy we know outside of church and we know he is gay. He is openly gay. He came to church?
Or- then we see those girls from school come in - you know, the ones who barely cover up their skin? Now it's all showing here in church, too. REALLY?

We look at them. Wonder why they came. Don't they know that there are dress codes here? Don't they know God doesn't like what they are doing? or did? We may even think about how they are messing up our morning. I mean, seriously- hearing her and seeing her all upset like that while I try to worship God is distracting. It's also distracting to see so much skin in front of me- COVER UP!

Really????

I try to imagine Jesus standing in front of us- I am trying to imagine him turning them away. "You aren't welcome here at church- you have to be perfect to come in. Or, at least trry to LOOK like you are- like you have it all together so that everyone else here feels good and comfortable."

NO! Not just NO, but HELL NO!

Jesus wants people to come to him JUST AS THEY ARE. (It doesn't mean he won't work on them and change them over time- He has changed me a lot and continues to....but thank God he didn't expect me to look perfect or be perfect first- or I still wouldn't be allowed to be there!)

And by the way- just because people look good and smile at church, doesn't mean they have it all together! People who go to church AREN'T perfect. They STILL have issues, struggles, SIN. They still need that Saviour, Jesus!

So, my struggle, personally, isn't the people who come to church and aren't afraid to let it all hang out and show everyone around them that they struggle. My issue is the people who sit there and stare- or shake their head in judgement- or act as if that person has no business being there. The people who would rather say I am a Christian, and I am going to only let these other Christian people who look good and smell good and act the way I like to be here with me.

But, then, I am being judgemental, too.