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Imagine an organization or club with this entrance requirement: you must admit that you have done many bad things, and that you need to change your ways. Then, in weekly meetings you continue to confess your continued wrongdoings.
Financial dues are pretty high - some members think you should give 10 percent of your gross income, or even more. The demands on your time are heavy, because every person's talents are needed.
The preceding description could describe a church. Contrary to some portrayals as a haven for self-righteous hypocrites, today's church is a place where people confront the reality of mankind's failures, but also receive the greatest assurance of hope possible.
There are some self-righteous hypocrites running around in the churches, but they are outnumbered by the quiet, silent majority who strive to serve God and apply the teachings of the Bible. When a prominent evangelist falls from grace, it makes the headlines. But when pastors visit shut-ins, members visit their sick brethren, children are taught to sing, thehungry are fed and many other seemingly small acts of love are performed, you don't hear about it. Hey - we're not supposed to brag about it!
Granted, many Christians aren't doing what is expected of them. For many of us, it's a struggle just to behave in a manner that does not bring disgrace to our faith. How can we hope to share our faith if we act like jerks? We can't.
But despite the fact that many Christians shoot their wounded, not to mention themselves in the foot, the faith goes on. There are many Mother Teresas in our world today. They may not be called to the life that she lived, but they are out there helping others in the name of Christ.
Christianity is not an eternal insurance policy or a holy country club. What it exactly is depends on each Christian. I can tell you that being a Christian is no easy task, and God has not asked nearly as much of me as he has of others.
But it is rewarding. There may be rewards in the hereafter, but there are also very real rewards in the here and now. The greatest joys imaginable come from living a life dedicated to God. And despite our continual failings, God never gives up on us - and He can use our seemingly miniscule efforts to great things. Little becomes much in the hand of God.
I invite you to look past the popular stereotypes of Christianity and discover its meaning for yourself. You may run into a few hypocrites along the way, and I may be one of them. But you also will find a peace and joy that can't be described.
Look past the people to Jesus. If you are looking for perfection, love and grace, you will find it in Him.
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