The story is told of a couple driving through a small community who stopped and asked an older gentleman about the people who lived there. They wanted to know what the people were like. He asked, "What are the people like where you live?" They responded most of the people were self-centered, rude, and not very nice people. The old man said, "Well, that's what you will find here, too."
The next day another couple drove through the community and happened to ask the same older gentleman the same question. Again, he asked, "What are the people like where you live?" They said most of the people were very out-going, friendly, helpful, pleasant people. The older man smiled and said, "Well, that's what you will find here, too."
The point is clear: we usually find what we are looking for. Zig Ziglar used to say that some people look for faults in others like there was a reward for finding them. He challenged his audiences to become good-finders. Look for the good in people and you'll usually find it.
This is also true in churches. We often hear people talk about all the problems in various churches, and churches do have their problems. But, churches also have their good points, and when we begin looking for them we'll usually find them.
We're all familiar with the old cliche that people use for not going to church: "It's full of hypocrites." Maybe that's so. When I used to go to bars it was full of hypocrites as well, but it didn't keep me out. The ballparks are full of hypocrites, but I've never heard anyone using that excuse for not going to a ball game. Hypocrites should go to church. The church was never intended to be a hotel for saints but a hospital for sinners.
If you're looking for the perfect church and find it, please don't go there. It won't be perfect any more if you attend. But, if you look for the good in churches, you'll probably find it among all the problems there as well. You'll be able to participate in the good things and, perhaps, help clean up some of the problems.
No comments:
Post a Comment