Even Professional Models Get Airbrushed

We love perfection, don't we? We are always looking for it wherever we go. And one of the facts about church we have difficulty with is that there isn't a perfect church. Every church is made up of imperfect people, which leads (obviously) to a church that is imperfect.

If we understand that scripture sees the church as a body of people who are trying to learn more about Jesus and become like Him in their love and actions, words and character, then we logically realize that they aren't there yet. On the inside they are dirty, ugly and imperfect. Which means the church is dirty, ugly and imperfect.

Do you think you are frustrated? Well have you gotten to the point where you call your church a whore?

Some of you just said yes. Some probably have said worse.

According to Augustine (354-430 AD), he was so frustrated with the church that he called her a whore. "The church is a whore, but she is my mother." The body that birthed his faith and taught him the ways of God was so imperfect that he compared her to a prostitute-an unfaithful woman who follows every whim and fancy.

But the unfortunate fact is that you are the church. I am the church. It's not some organization or institution. It's a bunch of imperfect people trying to learn to be more like Jesus. And that means that you and I "might" be part of the problem.

Do you remember when Jesus talked about sin, and compared it to a speck of sawdust in someone else's eye while in our own eye is a 2 x 4? The story still applies to us. Ask yourself, before you complain about the flaws of the church-do you have ways that you personally could grow? Is this a situation where Jesus would say to you, "He who is without sin can cast the first stone?"

Let's be honest. Some churches need to be better and more thorough in preaching holiness of character and integrity in order to be like Christ. Some churches need to be better at teaching justice, others need to preach more mercy. And the list goes on and on…..

But some of us get caught up in chasing the wind, looking for the perfect church. We'll throw stones and declare the many shortcomings of this or that church, and how this other church is better, but that's only a temporary illusion.

It's like chasing the perfect mate. They don't exist.

Even professional models get airbrushed.

But we continue to search for the perfection that doesn't exist. Instead of "church," let's substitute our romantic relationships. When push comes to shove, you will usually find yourself frustrated with a shortcoming or weakness in someone, so if you are dating, you might begin to look elsewhere for someone who is strong in that area. But what we forget to tell ourselves is that the new person/church who has strength in that area also has weaknesses in other areas.

Perfection is a temporary illusion.

This is why scripture continually tells us to get our eyes off our circumstances and other people to keep them fixed on Christ. His perfection isn't an illusion, it's a reality. And in light of His holiness and purity, we should be more convicted of our own shortcomings. And with our eyes fixed on Christ, it is difficult to get caught up in the way others aren't like Him, when we see our own sin.

Of course, we are forgiven and made righteous. But we still need to grow, would you agree? Is that true for that brother or sister in the faith that you are annoyed and frustrated with? Is that true for that pastor you don't like? Aren't they also forgiven and made righteous?

So let us strive to become more like Christ, and lead by example. If you wish your church would minister to the poor more, then you go out and do it. And then invite others. Don't wait on your church. Be the church. Be the body of Christ. You are the minister of the gospel, the priest of God according to the scriptures (I Peter 2:9). If you know the right thing to do, even if no one else joins you, will you still obey?

One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is John 21. At the end of that chapter, Peter is given his marching orders from Jesus, and he knows what he is supposed to do. At that point, Peter suddenly gets really interested in what John is going to do. He asks Jesus, "What about him?"

Jesus has a classic reply. He says to Peter, "What is that to you? You follow me." In other words, stop being so concerned about what someone else is doing and be obedient to what you know you are called by God to do.

It may be that when we get our eyes fixed on imperfections and shortcomings in others, whether it's an individual or a ministry, in our pride we forget about our own imperfections. And when we concern ourselves with what other people are or aren't doing, Jesus still asks us the same question.

What is that to you? You follow me.