I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised.
When Googling my local church recently to find out the physical address, a little blurb showed up that requested a rating of my church. I noticed right away that 14th Ave Baptist Church had not been rated by anyone yet, and from what I’ve learned in some of my business classes, I know that one or two unhappy customers can really hurt your averages for a business. So I quickly clicked on the farthest star to the right, indicating my vote for five stars.
Then I got to thinking.
What does a five-star church look like? 400 baptisms a week? Everyone always feels loved? They’re always on the bleeding edge of serving their city in creative and powerful ways? Epic small groups? All the members have the Bible memorized? No one in the church sins anymore? Are halos involved???
I don’t think a five-star congregation exists……yet. That will happen when Jesus wipes away all sin and injustice.
But here’s what I know of my journey in my late teens and early 20s: I was good at criticizing things in the local church that were not Biblical; but I wasn’t yet in love with the Church to the point of getting involved to help. (Can I get a witness!?!?!? Hallelujah!! I see that hand!!!)
Ever since the Lord has shown me how jacked up the church at Corinth was, I’m thrilled to be part of a three-star church.
Does any of you have a similar story? Are we showing enough grace to our brothers and sisters and being honest about our own brokenness?
Growing Forward 