What I'm convicted of is that we need a constructive ethic within the body of Christ. What I've read, seen, and heard are very assumptive criticisms of the state of the church. I'm fearful of this type of criticism, because in some cases it is broad generalizations of classes, sizes, or styles of churches. I must admit that it's easy to jump aboard the wagon of criticism and calling everything into question. I did. I became very unsatisfied. I questioned why I was doing this all in the first place if the church was such a big failure.
After distilling these thoughts over several months I've learned a constructive ethic of critique. I've allowed criticisms of the church to challenge me, but I'm not going to throw out the church as I know it. It's not because I'm solidified in the way the church has to be, but I think there are so many good churches out there doing great things that nobody ever hears about on a broader scale.
Take, for instance, a conversation I had a few weeks ago in a car ride on the way to a prison visit. My fellow passenger was telling me how his church opens its doors before services on Sundays to feed the homeless of the city. He shared that it gets messy sometimes because some of the homeless wander into the sanctuary and sleep (they don't kick them out, by the way). They also partner with other city churches to house the homeless over the coldest months of the year. I've never heard of this and I wouldn't have without this car ride.
My concern is that in as much as we critique the church of what it could be we also go about telling stories of what it is. I love the church. I don't love the building, but I love the body of believers that makes it up. I realize what we do within the building is a very small part of what the church is, but it is a good part. There are always things that we can work on, but I know many pastors in many churches who labor over that time on a Sunday morning when they instruct the body in the Scriptures. I marvel at the presence of God as believers come together and worship. These are good things. They are only exclusive in as much as we allow them to be. They can take place anytime throughout any day at any given place. This is the mission of the church to do just that. To proclaim through word, deed, and character the message of the life of Christ.
