restoration & reconciliation

good day...it's Friday, it's sunny, it's warm and the week's winding down. I should be kicking back and enjoying...but I've got a bone to pick. it's in response to some comments I received about another post: http://ineloquentanthem.blogspot.com/2009/04/jesus-wife-beaters.html

after some lengthy, challenging and inspiring conversations with friends regarding this post - it was brought to my attention that I did not come across with much grace or understanding. I agree - that may have been how I came across.

here's my heart (which probably was not obvious in the wife-beater post):

- it absolutely decimates my heart to think of the pain that people have received at the hands of the Church. there are countless stories of friends who have been greatly wronged by seemingly well-intentioned people.

I am sorry.

I am sorry that happened to you. I am sorry that people who say they love Jesus wronged you in such a way.

I am truly sorry.

but that is not the bone I pick - it's with those who have handed out the hurt that brings us to this point.

For many people who happen to regularly attend institutions called churches, they believe it is their God-given right to allocate punishment to anyone as they see fit - attempting to pick the proverbial speck out of others' eyes. typically, this has not been done in love (yes, I keep coming back to that).

here's my submission: if our intention when pointing out specks is not done with restoration & reconciliation in mind as the ultimate-goal, then it's best left undone. I'm not even going to play the 'plank-card' on this one - that should be common sense enough.

let me explain.

- if you are not willing to do everything in your power to help your brother or sister be restored and reconciled, then shut up.

- if you are not willing to humbly walk down those awkward, painful roads with your brother or sister in love, then take your well-intentioned (or are they?) motives and shove 'em (in your pocket).

- and mostly, if you are not willing to be honest with yourself, your brother or sister, and with God about your own lacking and need to be reconciled and restored, then...enough said.

...may we be people who humbly extend to all those in need the restoration and reconciliation that is freely offered in Jesus and be willing to walk with them...because, after all - we need this as much or more than they do.

Jesus'-Wife Beaters

I had the opportunity to take in Catalyst West Conference in Irvine, California. So many things to share from there, but something that's been on my mind that Perry Noble brought up: people who say they love Jesus, but hate the church.

I call these people Jesus'-Wife Beaters. Now, stick with me...there are plenty of people that I know who say they love Jesus, but have this deep-seeded angst with the (His) church. They love to sit and critque. They complain. They vent. They disrespect. They dishonor.

I have a beautiful wife, Brett (yes, she's a girl.) There's no way I deserve to be with her, but obviously I have her fooled. Fortunately my son looks more like her than me! I love Brett exponentially more than any other person.

Now, let's say you're hanging out with me, we're drinking some americanos, shooting the breeze and you feel the need to start trashing Brett - what you dislike about her, what bugs you about her, that you think she's ugly...well, I'm not just going to sit there and let you critique, vent about, disrespect, and dishonor my wife. I'M GOING TO PUNCH YOU IN THE THROAT! (at least that's what I'd want to do)

You catching this?

The Church is Jesus' wife, his bride...you dig? So when you sit back all smug, arms-crossed and start trashing Jesus' wife - how do you think he feels about this? Does he think: "boy, I'm so glad you felt the need to share these things with me - but how do you really feel?" hmmmm.

If you say you love Jesus, it follows that you should love the things he loves...one of those being his wife, his Church.

Now, I know there are faults in the Church, things that have gotten skewed. But that does not diminish the fact that I am called to love it - dang, I am it; we are it. It's a heart thing.

I know how easy it is to find these faults, some of them are glaringly apparent. But, what are you doing to improve them? What are you doing to be the Church we are called to be? You think you're so smart because you have pointed out all the major flaws in the church? Wow, congratulations! You deserve a prize, or at least a punch in the throat (figuratively of course.)

I believe there can be constructive criticism - but that has to be done in love. And if you're not willing to own up to your role in these flaws and be willing to have a role in the solution - SHUT UP! If you don't humble yourself in this - that's not love, don't delude yourself. Any moron can complain, that means nothing. But, who's willing to stand up and take ownership?

Does it grieve you how the Church has gone off-course in some areas? I believe it grieves Jesus too. Is this grief because you know how much more we could be? Or is it out of pride?

I'm sick of hearing it if you don't want to have anything to do with fixing it in love. So, let's together take an honest look at the Church and bring it back to Jesus.

...or you can continue to beat Jesus' Wife...