A Few Thoughts on Church

A young man approached his Pastor and said, "I will not be back to church." The pastor asked, "Why, what's the reason?"

The man vented, "At church, I see a woman gossiping about another. The one next to me sleeps, the other doesn't live right, and the other lives a lifestyle I don’t care about. At the time of service, someone else is playing with their phone. Then there are the younger generations that have no respect for us older ones in the church. Then some have different political beliefs compared to my own."

The pastor, a figure of profound wisdom and guidance, responds, "You're right. But before you make your final decision, I ask a favor of you. Take this candle and circle the church three times without spilling a drop of wax. Then, if you still wish to leave, you may do so."

"Is that all, Pastor?" The man's voice resonated with deep respect for the pastor's words. As requested, he walked around the church three times. When he finished, he reported to the pastor, "I have completed the task, Pastor."

The pastor asked him: "When you circled the church, did you notice anyone gossiping about someone?" "Nope." "Did you notice that man whose lifestyle you didn't care for?" "No" "Did you see someone on their phone?" "Nope." Etc...

"Do you know why? You were focused on your walk with the candle so you wouldn't spill the wax. Your eyes were on the light before you, so that's how it is in our lives. When our hearts gather in Christ, we focus on Him and how we walk with Him. We don't have time, nor is it our business, to look at other people's lives with our skewed opinions of them. There is a story behind each life we meet, and we don't know their stories without engaging, listening, and caring for one another. Those who leave the Church because of the lives of others indeed did not enter it to meet Christ." (Author Unknown)

This illustrates the importance of focusing on our spiritual journey and relationship with Christ. Just like walking with a candle requires attention to prevent spilling wax, our lives require intentionally focusing on Christ to avoid losing sight of our spiritual path. We stay grounded in our faith and journey by keeping our eyes fixed on Him, the Light that guides us. Furthermore, this emphasizes the significance of avoiding judgment towards others. Instead of scrutinizing and forming opinions about fellow believers, we are encouraged to redirect our attention to our walk with Christ. This shift in perspective fosters a deeper connection with God and one another, cultivating a sense of humility and understanding within our church community. Ultimately, this analogy highlights the transformative power of faith and the harmful distraction of our opinions of others to our commitment to Christ. It serves as a reminder to prioritize our relationship with God above all else and to approach others with compassion and grace, just as we would hope to receive in return.

Church is where we find spiritual growth and learn from the truth of His Word. We build relationships in community and worship, experiencing personal well-being in a lost and drifting world. This is where we belong as fellow believers. Everyone is created in God's image. Our journey is living in His presence and recognizing His reflection in each other.

I would be honored to sit with you and provide a safe space for you to explore and process your faith and life.

Peace, my friends,

Rob