Churches are All About Relationships with People We Want to be in Relationships With

Churches are all about relationships. We talk a great talk when it comes to the value and the importance of relationships. How many times have we said and heard the phrase it's all about relationships in our churches?

I think the statement that most resembles our churches is that we're all about relationships in theory, or that we're all about relationships with people we want to be in relationships with.

Because if truth be told, we're not very good about forming relationships with people we don't know, people who are different from us, or (gasp!) people we dislike.

And the end result is that the way the church goes about relationships is no different than the way the rest of the world does relationships.

And there's something terribly wrong about that.

The church ought to be a place where all people belong.

The church ought to be a place where all people can show up and be valued.

The church ought to be a place where all people can experience grace and mercy.

And don't tell me about how if we were to be a church that welcomes like that, that we would become a church that wouldn't stand for anything. Godly hospitality and welcome doesn't negate Godly standards and behavior. Godly hospitality and welcome is God's standard for Christ-like behavior.

Human beings, on our own, can be a standard keeping organization.

Human beings, on our own, can be an institution that accepts all behaviors and has no boundaries.

But only by God's strength and power can we become a place where people are valued and where Godly standards can be lifted up.

So God, help us now. Because too many places that call themselves the church of Jesus Christ have very little resemblance to you. Change us and help us to be more like you.