Earlier today I had a conversation with a promising young man who loves the Lord and has truly given his life over to Christ. If ever there were someone who exemplifies 2 Corinthians 3: 16 (whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away) and 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (16So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!)it is this young man.
What he shared with me broke my heart. "The Church" has been judging him with a worldly view. They have been holding his past against him and condemning him over and over .. . . just as the world would do. Once again I am sorry to say the trouble with churches is that they have people in them. This young man had to spend time in prison. He paid his debt to society but it seems the church is more interested in holding his past against him than society is!
I've dealt with this kind of situation before. While it may be challenging and painful for this young man, one thing it does swiftly to a faith community: it prunes hypocrites swiftly. People come face to face with their own hard core prejudice and immature faith when they find an individual like this seeking the Lord in THEIR fellowship. Some choose to leave because they don't want themselves or their family to be "exposed" to this kind of person.
This young man that I was talking to had recently experienced a church "tribunal" because of what was in his past, not his present!!! In other words the church does not believe there is truth in 2 Cor 5:17; the church doesn't believe that this is possible.
"The church" forgets it is called to practice perfect love; the church forgets God says, "I will remember your sins (remind you) no more" when we confess our sins and repent (turn away from the old life).
I would rather do ministry with 200 people like this young believer in Christ than 20 whining hypocrites. I have learned the hard that the hypocrites are high maintenance, emotionally draining, and a distraction from the true calling of the church: discipleship and evangelism.
I hope this young man accepts the invitation to come and fellowship with our congregation. We could use his experience knowledge and passion for Christ.
I think the hypocrites ALL left. But we'll see.
