Imperfect Spirituality

Churches are not perfect.  And that lack of perfection, of course, hinders our ability to show Christ to the world.  I've often said that most people in our community have no problems with Jesus, it’s the church that bothers them – the hypocrisy that is all too visible in Jesus’ imperfect followers.  My standard answer to those who decry the hypocrisy of Christians is to say that the church always has room for one more.  After all, Christians have not cornered the market on hypocrisy.  How many people in business, in politics, in the marketplace, say one thing yet do another?

But this criticism of the church by outsiders gives me hope that at least those who are not following Jesus are at least paying attention.  If I’m talking about you, then I applaud your ability to see the disconnect between who Jesus is and the failings of church people to be like him.  At least you are seeing the uniqueness of Jesus and that’s a good place to begin in discovering who he really is.

The truth is that followers of Jesus never get it quite right.  This was true with his early disciples, arguing about which one was the greatest among them, wanting places of honor, not grasping the servant heart of Jesus.  Still, what they did get right was that they kept following him.  And, after all, that is what it means to be a disciple --- to be a follower.

Sure, there are plenty of followers who are straggling along at the rear of the pack, getting off the trail sometimes because they barely see Jesus up ahead.  Still, somehow they dust themselves off when they fall, and get back at it, or as I like to think, Jesus picks them up and points them again in the right direction.  These are not sterling examples of Christian discipleship but they are following, and that really is all that Jesus asks.

And then, you have to admit, there are those who seem to follow so closely, who are right on Jesus’ heels, that it is as if we see the heart of Jesus shining in them.  There are the saints recognized around the world, like Mother Theresa.  But there are saints who live in your neighborhood --- the woman who picks flowers and visits the sick every week, the retired man who instead of playing golf every day, spends time at the Christian ministry sorting clothes, or shelving food supplies.  You know who they are.  These folks may not be perfect, but they are further along in living the servant life than most of us.

Yea, given the uniqueness of Jesus, it is hard to explain how some of his followers can be so shabby.  But it is equally hard to explain why there are so many shining lights of goodness out there, and why wouldn’t we want to be like them? 

By the way, part of the appeal of Jesus is that he measures perfection not by any objective standards of moral behavior.  Rather, he measures perfection by our ability to show mercy, as he shows not only to those shabby followers, but perhaps also to those who have never even made the effort.  That’s why church is always a mixed bag collection of people.  We are all following sloppily, and in need of mercy which Jesus offers in abundance.  Come join us.