Church Who Needs It
part one
Dealing with the public is definitely an eye opener. All the troubles, heartaches, pain, suffering, struggles to make ends meet and they are all real and all extremely important to that family or person. Job losses, auto and home repossessions and no-one is exempt.
Operating our food pantry and being a Pastor, we view things in a different perspective. We want to be more than another social program. We don't want to be a grocery store. People don't know where to turn to for their needs. Family, friends and fellow employees are having the same difficulty or have no resources to help.
Other social programs and agencies are also 'taxed' or have depleted their funds and storehouses. Government funding is not the answer. SO MY QUESTION to them and to you is - - - "where do you attend church regularly?" Surprisingly, most of them say, they don't go anywhere! Or I haven't been there in a while.
Some excuses are " I haven't found the right one" Which means they aren't looking. " Church has too many hypocrites" Do they know all of our members? "I don't like the Pastor asking for offerings" Have you checked the prices on NASCAR tickets, or ballgames or Las Vegas shows? Maybe some of that money can help you. "I don't like the Pastors sermons." But yet, whatever the social agencies tell you to do, you comply. But the Pastor asks you to pray, or get your sins forgiven or change your life - - - but thats too much to ask.
My second question is - - who dedicates you babies, performs your marriages, speaks at your families funerals, visits you in the hospital? Who comforts you in times of need? Generally its a PASTOR of a CHURCH.
I am not trying to be sarcastic, I want to be real to you. CHURCH is more than a Sermon for one hour on Sunday morning. It's more than a babysitting service for your kids. Church is not a building. It's real people just like you with real everyday problems. But, Church is a place where hurting friends can come together to share and comfort one another. CHURCH is a living, breathing, functioning organism - - and NOT to be an ORGANIZATION. So if we don't like Church, we don't like people. Is what we are saying. Of course not.
CHURCH people are your neighbors, friends, people at the mall, the store, the park - - wherever.
Church People make mistakes, have faults, quirks, oddities, different personalities, mannerisms, the way they dress etc etc . So find a good local Church where you can fit in. Characters just like you. You won't have to live life alone. You can call someone in time of need or cheer them in times of their troubles - - - any day of the week ! THAT my friends is CHURCH!