To church or not to church - that is the question...

I took Martin to work this morning (6 am on a Saturday - that's true love), and as is our normal custom, we talked all the way to his work. Lately it seems the theme of our conversations has been the number of people that either talk directly to us or that we overhear discussing how hypocritcal churches, and even Christians, are. Several of our family members and friends no longer attend church due to this very reason. Sadly, there is some truth to their complaints.

First of all, churches are made up of people. Christians are people. All people have flaws. Romans 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". I think sometimes we hold authority figures in the church and even lay people of the church to a higher standard. Yes, Christians should strive daily to live Christ-like lives, but all have sinned. Now don't think for a second that I am condoning such sin because as a Christian, we should lead repented lives. Job 36:10-11 "He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment". My point is just that none of us are without sin and shouldn't be so quick to judge. John 8:7 "But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." I, for one, am far from being blameless, so I choose to keep my stone casting to myself.

Secondly, there is a disturbing warning that God gives to us. Acts 20:30 "Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them." Martin and I have certainly heard these complaints from people. It is so unfortunate to hear of corupt churches, pastors, or saints. But sadly, it should not come as a shock because God warned us that some would be corupted. And maybe it's not so much shock as it is hurt and disappointment. We don't expect certain people to let us down, but sometimes it happens. However, it is important to remember that while people may have let us down, God has not.

With this being said, what is the answer? Stay away from churches? Hummm... Did you know that there are 80 verses in the Bible that instruct believers to assemble together. Many use the arguement that the church is within them and not a building or assembly. Some say that assembling themselves can be done with Bible Study's or even friendships with other believers. That is 1/2 right. Our body is His temple. 1 Corinithians 6:19 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own". However, my question is this:

• Mathew 18:17 "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." Tell who?? Tell me, tell you, tell an individual? Or tell an assembled group of believers?
• Acts 2:47 "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Was I added to? You? Or and assembled group of believers?
• Acts 16:5 "So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily." Since this is plural here, is it saying that I was strengthened and increased in number? Or you? An individual maybe? Or an assembled group of believers?
• Romans 16:1 "I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea" Whoa - Who was Phoebe? A servant of the church. A servant of mine or yours or another individual? Or a servant to an assembled group?
• 1 Corinthians 1:2 "To the church of God which is at Corinth" To whom?
• 2 Corinthians 1:1 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia" I think this is pretty self-explanitory...

In the NKJV, there are 120 mentions of the word "church" both in the Old and New Testiments. I think I've made my point clear that I don't think the answer is to stay away from church. Do you know what I think the answer is? I think it goes back to John 8:7. Galations 6:1-5 " Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions (not test the actions of someone else - look at yourself). Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else (Wow. Without comparing yourself to anyone else. Sounds like a warning to be careful not to cast stones to me), for each one should carry his own load. "

I've said all that to say this, I agree that some have fallen off their pedestools and that there have been some churches and some Christians that have been corupt, but we are not to focus on the mistakes of others. We are to keep our eyes on God and we are to test ourselves. Matthew 7:4-6 NIV "How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

So don't let a few bad apples spoil the bunch. All churches are not corupt. All people that call themselves Christians are not hypocrits. All churches aren't on autopilot barely living "good" lives. Maybe it's been hard to find people that really love God with their whole hearts, or maybe you've been discouraged and stopped looking, but they are there. Trust me.

And in the meantime, a challenge to all of us that strive to be Christ-like: test yourself like the Book of Galations instructed. Study and examine yourself, your intentions, and the way you come across to others. Find your weaknesses, not the weaknesses of others, but your own. And as instructed in the Book of Matthew, remove your "plank". Once you have, then you can help (not hurt, not condemn, but HELP) you fellow brother.