— Lisa Crump
Webster’s Dictionary defines “Church” as being: 1. a building for public Christian worship, 2. public worship of God or a religious service in such a building, and 3. the whole body of Christian believers. A lot of the times “church folks” will go out of our way to intentionally misconstrue the actual meaning of the word “church.” As we delve deeper into the meaning of the word, you see terms such as “Christian believers” and “Christian worship.”
Not once in the actual definition of the word “church” do you see, “A body of Christian believers who have never fallen short of the word of God….only those WITHOUT sin can attend “Church.” James 4:12 states: “There is only one lawgiver and judge, he is able to save and destroy. BUT WHO ARE YOU to judge your neighbor?” Unfortunately, “church folk” have a nasty habit, stemming from generational curses, of damning those who need church the most.
“No sin is greater than the other.” “We have all sinned and come short of the word of God.” “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” All of the previous statements tend to fall on deaf ears to HOLIER THAN THOU Christians. No, I’m not using these phrases to excuse certain sinful behavior, but I am using them to point out a very significant flaw in the “church folk” mentality.
I use these biblical phrases (the keyword being “biblical”) to say that if one claims to be deeply rooted in the church, and in a personal relationship with God, then he or she should never condemn another for seeking out God’s house. Any group (or person) that has the audacity to run away unwed mothers, homosexuals, prostitutes, or anyone seeking to know God better, is a body of people that will not see favor from God.
Learn to accept people for their individual circumstances and for who and what they are. Honestly, you don’t know why that young man turned to drugs, or what event took place to make that young lady a single mother. There is always more to a situation than what actually meets the eye.
You wouldn’t believe how many young single mothers, and people in general, are afraid to go back to their church homes because they are terrified of the ridicule and condemnation that awaits them. Think about it: if a person is hurting and living a sinful life, then the best place they can be is a loving and supportive church surrounded by believers.
And for the victims of the “holier than thou” mentality, keep your head held high. God just loves using those who have been “discarded” and “dismissed” for his amazing glory.
