The Ringing Phone and the Spilled Drink
The church is supposed to be a place of grace, kindness, and non-judgment toward people who make mistakes. We’re supposed to be the light, the vessels through which others can experience the love of Christ.
Christ didn’t come for the righteous. He came for those who are lost. Matt 9:10-13. He has called us to become children of light and love. But it takes time to adjust to the new way, and some mistakes (like a visible tattoo) can never be hidden or taken back.
Role of negativity
As humans, we are more sensitive to negative news and tend to pay more attention to it, compared to positive news. It is a human weakness. But as Christians, we are called to be better.
We need to be more conscious of this, so that we don't push members away, both from ourselves and from the church.
Every harsh word we speak, every cold shoulder we turn, is another brick we place in a wall between a struggling soul and the grace of God. Because of our cold attitude, we risk pushing members away from the church and from Christ.
The Physician's Office
Christ didn't establish a church for the perfect. He came for the sinners.
The self-righteous Pharisees, who were quick to judge, were the only ones Christ truly rebuked. Why? Because they thought they were well and stood outside the need for grace.
We are called to be Christ-like. It means:
- To love the way Christ loved.
- To offer mercy and treat people better than they deserve, because Christ treated us better than we deserved.
- To show concern for a brother or sister when they start acting in ways a Christian should not act, because we don’t want them to be condemned to hell.
- To be more accommodating and offer help where we can.
- Handling a backsliding brother or sister with care so that they can be reminded of the love of Christ through you and hopefully return to Christ.
- Responding to the "spilled drink" with a warm towel, an encouragement, and a new drink.
Conclusion
The world is full of judges. Let the church be the refuge—a place of grace, mercy, and love.