Something I hear constantly when I’m around people are war stories about how they’ve been burnt by the church. If you are not careful, you’ll end up thinking that just because a lot of churches are messed up, all churches are messed up.
I know good people who have opted out of attending church or being a part of a church for a period of time just to be able to get their sense of self back together. And I respect that. But I, for one, am committed to the church as taught in the Scriptures; that it is a dynamic movement of God’s redeeming grace. It is a collection of messy people who have found not only their joy, but their peace and their wholeness in a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.
So today I talk about the 10 good reasons why you need a great church. Remember that just because there are a lot of broken churches doesn’t mean the idea of church is a bad one. We don’t stop eating just because there are some bad restaurants. We don’t stop attending ballgames just because the teams don’t play well. I urge you to listen. Talk these ten ideas over with your family, co-workers, and small groups.
Out there somewhere is a dynamic, growing, vital, vibrant gathering of people seeking to know God, love God, and live the life for which they were created. You can be a part of that. You can be a part of something big, something that makes a difference. Or you can just be mad, sad, cynical, and stay home. Your choice.