Church, I’m talking about.

Existing in this world, but not being of it.

Transforming one soul at a time.

We can do this by making the church the lens by which we view the world. Letting Jesus be the mirror that reflects on what’s happening around us. Taking the “peace and justice bucket” and filling it with Jesus and church ingredients or prescriptions. It is the same concept by which we can say not only that God defines love, but God is love.

Millennials and younger can spot duplicity, hypocrisy, and insincerity a mile away. When we try to put on some fakeness to attract skeptics and doubters, we make matters worse. We cannot be other than what we truly are – the body of Christ. I do not mean we should maintain a “take it or leave it” approach. We are called to be relatable and relevant. Those who choose to follow Jesus embark on a journey of adventure and discovery. We live in a cynical, disbelieving culture. We offer a person, in whom we are courageously convicted! We don’t even have to get hung up on all the details! We are shaped by our stories, part of THE Story.

Have any of you ever been called “church-y”? I have. It is mostly derogatory, but we can take it as a compliment. That is, IF our “churchy-ness” is outward-focused. Reaching everyone we can with the Good News spoken or shown. The world needs that, whether it notices or acknowledges it. Remove the stigma of what they fear and dread church to be! Allow yourself to be a conduit, a path along the journey that takes them to the unconditional love which is ours in Christ Jesus.

Pastor Art