meaningful discussion

Isn't She Beautiful?

I am not speaking of my wife (although she is) or any other women (so as to remove doubt in anyone's mind). I am speaking about the conference at Mars Hill Church that took place in January. I was fortunate enough to attend the conference and enjoyed most of it. One thing that amazed me at the conference was how many hurting pastors there are in the world. I guess the first question to ask is why the Church is known for tearing down their pastors instead of lifting them up? I know that there are exceptions to every rule, but the hurt that was at the conference was unbelievable. My wife and I could not keep from weeping at the last service because of the hurtful and mean things that have happened to us since we have decided to serve God in his church. It was a great time of healing and restoration.

So, a few questions: Why is the place that is supposed to be a place of safety, healing and restoration the most common place that not only pastors get destroyed, but also memebers in the church get raped as well? How come the gathering of people has gone from an open and honest place to the place where we hide things even harder to make sure that people don't find out what is really happening in our lives? How did the gathering of people that is supposed to be the least judemental become the place where the gavel is dropped weekly? I am not sure there is an answer and the obvious answer is always the church is a whore, but she is also the bride of Christ.

Don't get me wrong, I do believe the Church is beautiful, I just wish and dream of a Church that isn't a beautiful whore.

Interested in what you guys think...

posted by Jeremy Thompson @ 1:44 PM