The Kitchen Lady…

I have now been in ministry for 24 years.  Over the years, I have seen countless people very involved in the church suddenly stop coming to the church.  By far, the most common reason that this happens is that someone else in the church hurt them by something said or done.  I remember as a Youth Pastor in Florida having ‘the kitchen Nazi’ of the church really mistreat a young teen girl for asking for paper bowls from the kitchen.  I had sent her to the kitchen to ask because we were painting the youth room and I didn’t want to waste money by buying 30 plastic buckets so we were going to use styrofoam bowls.  The young girl came back crying because of how the lady had treated her.

As the people of God, there are many things we may disagree upon such as worship style and even doctrine, but one thing that we should all agree upon is that we are to love one another.  And that brings us to the Verse of the Day:

Galatians 6:10

10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

(NIV)

It is not new.  The church has been mistreating one another since the very beginning.  So many of Paul’s letters are addressing issues where people in the church have not loved well.  

The church is full of imperfect and sinful people.  And where there is sin, there is selfishness, there is offense, there is pride, and all kinds of manifestations of the sinful nature.  The church is not full of perfect people. Can I get an ‘Amen?” So the church has the same issues as the world. The church is never going to be a place where these things are absent, but the church is supposed to be an example to the world of how to handle these issues with grace, love, and restoration.  

The Church is full of imperfect people…

Though there are fights and disagreements within the church, the Lord has called us to forgive, to submit to one another, to not let anything out of our mouth unless it builds others up.  When the church lives as God has called us to live, the disagreements and discord will fall away to harmony, forgiveness, and peace. We are supposed to be a city on a hill, a light to the world (Matthew 5:14-16).  This is why the Apostle Paul says that we are to do good to all people, but especially those who belong to the family of believers. 

The context of this Scripture teaches us that our lifestyle in doing good to others especially to those in the family of God will produce a harvest for us.  Doing good to others, Paul compares to planting seeds. But the opposite is also true. If we do not do good to others, there is no harvest, only weeds. And in the church, if we do not do good to one another, the weeds are in the sanctuary.  

If the church could be the church…

In fact, I would say that the world around us today, with the increase of wickedness, is the result of the church’s inability to love one another and do good to others.  If only the church would be the church, who wouldn’t want to be part? If we all treated one another with love and respect, then people would want to be part of the church.  But when the world sees backbiting, jealousy, fits of rage, and corruption in the church, why would they want to become part of that?

I just recently found out that when one of my sons was 7 years old, a person in the church told them that if he did not behave all the time, I would lose my job because the Bible says a minister must be able to manage his own family.  Can you imagine the pressure this little 7-year-old boy must have felt? It was so impactful on him that he still remembers this person saying this to him. He just recently told his mother and I about this and the struggles he had because of it.  Thankfully, by the grace of God, He stayed true. He is now our worship leader, loves the Lord, and we give God all the praise. 

What do you think?  Let’s be the church.  We are going to have disagreements.  None of us will ever get everything we want so let’s just know that so we are not surprised or offended when we don’t.  Let’s love one another, respect one another. Let’s be that city on a hill.

Live Blessed and Be a Blessing!

Pastor Lee is a pastor and Biblical life coach.  He has been helping people through counseling, pastoring, teaching, and preaching for 20+ years.  His ministry focuses on helping people overcome the strongholds of the past and press on into God’s plan for an abundant life.  He has been married to his wife, Amy for 28 years.  He has three sons and one daughter-in-love.  For more about Pastor Lee or to get some Biblical advice, go to the About page.