Talk about a non-news item. Religious News Service, in a Jan 9 article titled "'Unchurched' Americans say church is 'full of hypocrites'" reveals what I've been hearing on a consistent basis for more than 50 of my 60 (so-far) years.
Surprise: There are hypocrites in the church. So where else should they/we be? The church is full of sinners of all kinds, so why should we be surprised that it contains (at least) its fair share of hypocrites.
One of my friends used to tell me that every time her brother (who was "unchurched" by his own choice) went off on hypocrites in the church, she would remind him that there's always room for one more.
I think we should be shocked and surprised if we should find a church without any sinners/hypocrites--now that would be news--or any household in America (or the world), for that matter.
"Church" is not about perfect people, it's about a community of imperfect people drawn together, under God, to "bear one another's burdens," "bind up each other's wounds," and seek to help each other live lives of worth and purpose--"warts and all." Come to think of it, here at Pilgrims' we still have a few empty seats. Hypocrites (and any others) welcome!!
Surprise: There are hypocrites in the church. So where else should they/we be? The church is full of sinners of all kinds, so why should we be surprised that it contains (at least) its fair share of hypocrites.
One of my friends used to tell me that every time her brother (who was "unchurched" by his own choice) went off on hypocrites in the church, she would remind him that there's always room for one more.
I think we should be shocked and surprised if we should find a church without any sinners/hypocrites--now that would be news--or any household in America (or the world), for that matter.
"Church" is not about perfect people, it's about a community of imperfect people drawn together, under God, to "bear one another's burdens," "bind up each other's wounds," and seek to help each other live lives of worth and purpose--"warts and all." Come to think of it, here at Pilgrims' we still have a few empty seats. Hypocrites (and any others) welcome!!
