Why I Love the Beautiful, Messed-Up Local Church
Inside: Have you been disillusioned, hurt, or put off by the local church? It certainly is messed up. Consider these reasons to give it another chance.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
We start singing the first song, voices raised, hearts settling, some of us still finding our seats. To my left, a young mom kindly eyes the little foster child she took in two nights before, all of the mom’s protective instincts evident. We know about the family’s addition because we saw the mom’s urgent request for a twin bed for the emergency placement.
Behind me stands an older couple, dressed formally, worshiping with their granddaughter and family. Listen closely to this couple’s stories, and you’ll glean deep wisdom. The grandfather lost his final job because he prayed at work in order to encourage a young man.
In front and to the right of me, finding strength in collective worship, stands the family who lost their toddler granddaughter a year earlier in a tragic day care pickup. Catastrophe like that will change a person. How do you get out of bed the next day? How does such suffering change how you talk with God? New mission drives this family (see Harper’s Hugs).
Across the aisle, young professionals fill the seats, longing to worship freely, yearning for justice to prevail in the world.
The music shifts, a slower melody filling the room, and in walks a young family, led by the dad, coaxed along by the mom. They find open seats in front of me, and the mom instantly shifts from the pressure of parenting to the sacred of worship, bowing her head, stealing precious quiet time for just her and her Lord. The dad checks on the boys; the mom remains bowed, oblivious to her sons, letting God’s presence wash over her.
Story after story after story. People who work differently, play differently, vote differently. People straining, struggling, sometimes succeeding. All in one room, praising the God from whom all blessings flow, finding sustenance and guidance in a messed-up world.
This is the beautiful, imperfect local church, one small fragment of the bride of Christ, replicated in countless homes and cities around the world, inhaling the mercy and grace of God, exhaling an imperfect reflection to the community around it.
The local church. Marred by sin. Wracked by conflict. Filled with messed-up people.
Yet if you get to know these people and listen to their individual stories, you’ll find God’s grace fully active, His mercy ever needed and apparent.
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. (Romans 12:4-5 ESV)
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 ESV)
Despite its flaws, what do you love about the local church?
Looking for a Devotion?
I was on vacation this past week and didn’t write a full-blown devotion. Thank you for your grace and understanding! If you’re looking for a devotion, take some time to pray and journal over these questions and worship with these songs.
1. What do you find messed up about your local church or one you have attended?
2. What do you find beautiful about your local church or one you have attended? Consider how God is working through the local body, even though it is imperfect. You might list these characteristics or the ways you have benefited from the local church in your gratitude journal.
3. Have you been hurt by the local church? Jesus cares deeply about you. Bring your complaints to Him and ask Him to heal your heart. Listen for His guidance and ask for His grace to protect your heart and redeem the situation.
God I Look to You (Francesca Battistelli, Bethel Music)
Great Are You Lord (All Sons and Daughters)
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This is a beautiful piece and there are so many stories reflected. We love our local church too and actually go to 2! One is a house church that meets fortnightly and then we sometimes go to our nearest city an hour away, where we have a church that is also a drive in movie theatre. Coming over from By His Grace Bloggers
What a great variety of worship settings you get to experience! The body of Christ is alive and well! Thank you for commenting. I love the group By His Grace Bloggers.
Awesome job!!
What do I love about the local church? The potential. When we serve beside each other, in unity and with the same focus, we can advance the kingdom of God. The church is powerful and beautiful!!!
YES. There is so much good to be seen in the church, because God is at work in the midst of our human frailties.
I love my small local church! This is true, we are messed up humans. The more we know the people of the church the more we may see the messiness but we also see the love and love them in return. We also need to remember that when others look at the church we are part of that messiness, and hope they love us as we love them. I look around my church and love it, love the people and all of it, as a whole it is so beautiful! Thanks for putting it into beautiful words.
That is a good reminder–we are individually and personally part of all of that messiness! All covered by God’s grace. Thank you for commenting!