What Happened To Our Church?

What Happened To Our Church?Tanya James It's Sunday morning, and church service will begin in the next ten minutes. In walks a young girl, dressed in a super mini-skirt and cropped shirt with 5 inch heels and torn stockings. Instantly, heads turn and people start pointing and whispering among themselves saying things like, "how dare she wear something like that to church service?" and "Did she come straight from the club?"What they don't know is that this young girl was a call girl, who had a dream last night where she was positive God reached out His hand and called her back to Him. She rushed to the church building this morning wanting to get her life on track and turn back to God. However, she sees the people (the church) talking about her and embarrassed she turns and runs back out the door ...back to the streets from whence she came.Unfortunately, this is just one of many examples of experiences that people are having "in church" every week across the country. I believe we have lost sight of the fact that we are supposed to be "the church." It's much bigger than the "building" we worship in.What happen to the church being a place of support, love, forgiveness? When did we become so judgmental that we lost sight of our purpose?Why are there so many Christians remaining in bondage because they are afraid to let down their guards and share their struggles with sexual immorality or drugs or lying because they fear what people will say?There was a time when "church" was a safe haven - a place where one could shed the layers of disappointment, bitterness and shame and through people ... could embrace the grace and mercy of our loving God. Now all too often, people are so wrapped up in their own "issues" that we are no longer reaching out to the sick and brokenhearted.Too often, we come to the church building and go through the motions of "just being there" and leave just as messed up as we were when we came in. We have to stop this and get back to being the church God called us to be. We must realize that it's not just a place for the saints that seemingly have it altogether come to gather each week ... but it should be ...A place of prayerA place of healing A place of unconditional love and supportA place of compassion A place of forgivenessA place of refuge A place of honor and respect And this is not just an attitude to adopt when you walk into the church building ... but we as the church need to be this way at all times. What do your words and actions say about "the church" on your job, in your neighborhoods or in the marketplace? Can a person that is in search of God follow you to find Him? Or will they like the girl in the story be too embarrassed to come to you that they decide to stay in sin and bondage?Let us remember to ...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven... Matt 5:16