I'm spending a few days in Mississippi at the ranch where I grew up. The last few months have been constant ministry activity. The Chapter 2 campaign really kicked my tail. No one lives on the part of the ranch my family stll owns. But there is a place where I can stay and get away. I took some stuff to read and I'm taking some time to think about stuff for the futue. I also brought a letter with me that I need to answer. I've had this letter for a couple of weeks now. It came just before we had commitment Sunday for Chapter 2 and I just didn't have the time or energy to answer it. It's a lady from our community that is very upset with our "Church for the rest of us" ads. She did sign her name and send her address so I feel she deserves an answer.
In the letter she talks about our acceptance of people who "drink beer and live lives that displease God." She admits she has never been to our church but she calls us "A country club for sinners." She says the only reason people come to our church is because we don't tell them that there are things in their lives that they need to change. She says she knows we need to love sinners but that there comes a time when we have to tell them the truth.
I know the vast majority of you who read this blog do attend our church. I haven't finished the letter but I'm wondering how you would answer this lady. Give me some suggestions of what to say to her.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Country Club for sinners?
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13 comments:
County Club for sinners....I like it! That could be our next post card.
This seems like an example of judging without really knowing what you are judging. By listening to a sermon I think she would see that that is not the message preached at all. I consistently find that I get a message of how to be a better person with my relationship with God and others and that I do need to change and I can without being condemned or judged. And God loves me enought to want me to change.
Well, first of all she needs to be challenged on her ignorant statement. How can she know we don't tell sinners to change if she's never attended or heard a message? I would challenge her to at least listen to a few messages before making statements on what we do and do not say.
Ed I know you will come up with just the right thing to say to her, you always do. I liked the example that Jason had on his blog about "just come home". Maybe you could borrow that from him. And maybe it is a country club for sinners, we are all sinners ! But I haven't seen the pool or golf course ??
I agree with a previous post, she is commenting on something she has not thoroughly investigated. I wonder if any answer you provide her Ed will be satisfactory. That said, what’s wrong with having a country club for sinners? Let see we are getting people to attend our church, welcoming them in with love instead of judgment and praying for them to be reconnected with God. What’s wrong with that? My response to her would be, we are a country club for sinners, come join us we enjoy a good debate.
"Country Club for Sinners". I like that, too. We are all "sinners" and I think we have a great "club" right here in the "country". I love this church and for those who have never been there have no right to decide what we do or don't do. Ed please encourage this "sinner" (since we all are) to come visit our little "club"
I'd suggest telling this lady that our ads and worship style make it comfortable for people to walk through the doors into community with others who accept and love them. Once they are inside, the messages taught by you and Jason clearly state God's plan for us. Maybe she should listen to some of the messages on the website or at a service before judging us. Also, I'd share with her information about our small groups, the profiles we complete each year, and the emphasis on accountability and service at CCC. No other church I ever attended did any of that. I'm glad we do.
I love how some Christians call lost people "sinners" as though they are not sinners themselves. It seems to be their way of sounding superior. I would say to the lady that while on Earth Jesus ministered to lost people and showed them his love. He still does, and He did not fail to tell them about a better way. We at CCC also tell people about a better life, but we do it in a way that makes them feel loved, not judged. If we refuse to do the same thing Jesus does, if we are not willing to do what Jesus asked of us, in effect that means that we think we are above it and above Him. That is a very dangerous thing to do--thinking we know better than Jesus what needs to be done and how to do it. If it is good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for me.
You must not know
Of what I've felt
To turn away
From my cry for help
I've been broken
Felt lots of pain
I've known not
Of the price He paid
Who will tell me?
Who will show
This love for me
I've never known?
I'm afraid of you
I don't understand
I'm ashamed of me
The lesser man
You've earned his love
Isn't that right?
I'm damaged goods
Not worth the fight
What I can become
May take some time
For I'm in the valley
And I must climb
I've broken His heart
I'll make it right
If saving me
Was worth His life
This because
A chosen few
Showed me love
I never knew
Ed, this is one of those things that you shouldn't probably be asking us to help you answer. This is something you should ask god, and im sure you are. This lady should try coming to our church some time just to see what it is like, maybe she will change her mind, maybe she will still be her same rock headed self. It really is amazing what one little logo will do to some one, or some places image. That same picture has been criticized in other ways two. People say its two gay guys drinking bear. Me, i see two friends sitting on a couch either talking or watching tv and drinking bear. What, is drinking a sin? So if i drink water or soda its a sin? Now if they where drunk, maybe it would be understandable, but one beer in there hands, thats just out of proportion. I think this lady shouldn't be to quick to judge a church by its logo, just like people shouldn't be so quick to judge a book by its cover. It can be a good book, but have an old messed up cover.
I would just point out we are following the example of Christ, and reaching out to the tax collectors of our day. People that many Church's are willing to exclude or overlook.
"But go and learn what this means: 'I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Hi Ed,
I know I'm a little late for this, but I'm just catching up on my email.
If I were answering the lady's email, I'd try to explain that there is a big difference between acceptance and tolerance. I think that those of us who call CCC our church home are accepting of sinners-after all, we don't have to look very far to find sin in our own lives. However, what is right is right, what's wrong is wrong. Anyone who comes to our church for the first time can be assured that if they stick around long enough, whatever sins they may be struggling with will be brought out. I am continually amazed at the things that you and Jason have the guts to say during the services, and I think it is fantastic. The Bible is black and white about so many of the controversial subjects of the day, and we trust that neither one of you will muddy that up in the name of political correctness, tolerance, whatever.
The lady's comments also remind me of something that my old Weight Watchers leader used to say. You may have heard this before, but I think it is a worthy comparison, so I'll lay it out here. I think it is pretty common that when you have a bad WW week, you may not want to come to the meeting that week. She used to try to convince us to come anyway. She'd say, "This meeting is like the emergency room. You don't say 'When I get better, then I'll go see the doctor'. You go to the doctor while you are sick in hopes that he can help you. You should come to the meeting to get back on track and get the help you need." We don't walk into WW meetings as healthy, skinny people, so I'm wondering why people think that you should be a perfect Christian when you go to church? I think church can be like the emergency room. When you are having a bad life or doing things that aren't pleasing to God, that is exactly the time that you should be in church. You shouldn't be waiting until you become perfect to go, especially when God can get rid of your sin.
The "Church for the Rest of Us" slogan is terrific because it truly says what we are about. Keep it, and keep up the good work!
Ed, remind her that unless you taste chocolate, you don’t know what it’s like…you will never know the sweetness, or bitterness, the texture etc. Unless she visits our church she will never know that we strongly believe in outreach, and do strictly teach the Bible, and Jesus’ words. And, on top of that, as instructed in the Bible, we sincerely try to walk the walk of Jesus and, in words and actions, strive desperately to reach those without Christ and show them that they are loved, unconditionally, and that through Christ’s love all things are possible.
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