What is church?

John 8: 7-9 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” ⁸ And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. ⁹ Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
I don't know about you, but I hate my church parking lot. It is no different than any other parking lot. Crazy drivers, angry people in a hurry to get somewhere, and even accidents. With the church not ten feet away. Not ten feet away people shake hands, worship together, and pray for one another. What happens in those 20 to 50 steps we take to our car. Does our spiritual strength end the moment we step out the doors of our church.


It is important to remember that the church is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints. It's a place where people go to improve their spiritual health. It's a place where people go for encouragement, and to get their spiritual batteries recharged.

The church is not perfect in fact no one is perfect. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, I know that I am among the crazy drivers. I am often impatient, frustrated, and even angry. I think the hypocrisy of the world is so often perpetuated by those people who hold their church above all else. For these people their church has become an idol. It is not Jesus they worship so much as the church they worship in. Their pastor is the only one with the message. They have the only way to God and if you aren't attending that church you aren't getting there.

We've all met a few of these people. They may not act like Christians during the week, but if you ever ask them about their faith they will proudly tell you about there church. Don't bother telling them about your church, your mission, or your faith because if you aren't sitting next to them on Sunday you just don't measure up.

We all have the potential to become these people. It's in our nature, but Jesus didn't call us to judge by our standards. He told us we would be held to his standards. He didn't care where we sat on Sunday as much as where our heart was.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.