Number One:
Craig Groeschel tells a story about being a guest preacher at a small church while he was in seminary. He is talking to the secretary a few days before he is scheduled to come preach. She tells him, "You better be good. We've got a visitor coming this week and we desperately need a few new tithers to be able to pay the bills."
So Craig shows up on Sunday morning and he's standing outside a few minutes before church starts. Then he sees "the visitor." She staggers out of her car. Looks like she slept in what she is wearing at that moment. She looks scared. But she makes herself head for the door.
Craig says that his first thought is that he wonders what's going on in this woman's life to make her seek out church. And this church.
But as Craig sympathetically watches her make her way towards the door, suddenly a greeter steps towards her. And the greeter says, "Young lady, we dress up for God at this church."
The woman breaks into sobs and runs for her car.
Number Two
Julia Druin tells a story about Matt. He islegally blind and unable to drive, but he used public transportation to live a very productive life. Matt is a deep thinker and loves Reformed theology. He has a massive library and loves to have heady conversations about God.
Matt has struggled to find a church. There aren't many churches in which Matt fits theologically that are within walking distance of the bus route.
Matt finally found a church he liked. And the church leadership agreed to try to find a family to give him a ride. They did for awhile. Then the family began to forget on occasion. Matt would get dressed and go wait outside. They'd never show. When Matt called the church staff, they told him he was on his own.
Matt hasn't been back to church since.
Question: Who are we here for?
It's no wonder the unchurched call us hypocrites.
ReplyDeleteThose both made me a little bit angry inside.
ReplyDeleteThe first one is really ridiculous, though. Clearly that church needs a committee to decide their priorities. Are they trying to attract as many donors as possible or make as many people as possible dress nicer? I think that girl should go to a church that meets in a cafetorium.