It seems to me people often misunderstand the church. How many times have you heard someone say that they don't know how people who are so “bad” can claim to be Christian and go to church?

There's this idea that church is the place where people who are “ righteous” and “saintly” and know “every answer” go to show off to one another just how “good” they are. Even some Christians think this way.

That's not what the church is at all. No one is perfect. No one is without sin. No one can keep the Ten Commandments and live up to the full expectations of our divine creator. Working our way into God's favor by even our best human efforts of being and doing good is impossible. Everyone falls short of being what God rightfully wants them to be.

So what is the solution? God has provided a means by which folks can come again into His favor and experience a right relationship with Him. That solution is the person and work of Jesus Christ. He kept the law of God, He conquered sin, He put things right between creator and creation. He is the salve for the wounds of the world.

And the church? Well, it's sort of the first aid station where this healing ointment gets passed out to everyone. You see, people who are hurt and lonely and who have failed and failed again can always come through the doors of the church to be forgiven (for Christ's sake) and to be used by God to bandage and comfort others.

And when one has been touched and healed and pressed into service, his or her life begins to look a little different. Oh, the sinning unfortunately goes on and that which is “bad” doesn't always instantly disappear. But change occurs.

And the more one can see life in the perspective of this undeserved love of God, the more one can live out the kind of life that more closely reflects the intentions of our creator.

It seems to me this is what the church is all about.

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