The world is an ugly place. Sin and death pervade it, tearing society apart at its seams. People are basking in consumerism, purchasing the new iphone and new gaming station every single year. They walk around trying to impress and please any person they pass, even people they will never see again. Money, success, and numbers drive every business, and even every individual, to do horrible things. Pornography, strip clubs, prostitution rings, and divorce tear apart the sacred nature of love and marriage that God has put in place. Abortion is at an all time high, and homosexuality is quickly gaining traction as not only an acceptable lifestyle, but a commendable one. Racism still persists, despite decades of trying to fight against it. People are murdered, and even children are ruthlessly shot down. When I open up Twitter or Facebook, I see nothing more than a bunch of angry people tearing each other down over the most useless arguments. Sports stadiums get filled with people who are boiled up with hatred because of a simple game. Grown men act like children. Poor people are ignored. Evil always holds the places of highest power. The world is a terribly scary place.
Thankfully, we have been given a safe haven. Right? A place of peace and joy and love. God has blessed us with a group of His own people, the Church. We are called the lights of world, people who are going to be known by their love for one another. We live among a people who are called to love and forgiveness and truth and joy and righteousness. We are different.
At least, we are a supposed to be.
When I look at the church, it resembles the same ugliness as the world around it. In fact, it’s even uglier, because the despicable things we do, we do in the name of Jesus. I look at a Church who daily takes the name of their Lord in vain. I see a Church who makes endless sacrifices to the gods of money and comfort. I see a Church that is consumed with numbers and making things look nice. I see light shows and concerts. Safety reigns as the supreme virtue of our lives. Pastors and laymen alike are lazy, putting in a half-hearted effort not only in their jobs, but also their families. Church members gossip and talk bad about one another to no end. Christians on social media act just like the rest of the world – partaking in fruitless arguments and unhealthy criticism. Even the healthy disagreements and critiques are inevitably taken to a place of anger and hatred. Christians are easily offended by any little thing that upsets the perfect lives they have carved out for themselves, even when – or perhaps especially when – that thing is truth. I see a bunch of Christians who cuss like sailors and watch the same kinds of disgusting TV as the rest of the world, pornography included. Music that tears down women and promotes evil is not lacking in their musical libraries, either. Conflict within the Church is handled the same way as it is in the world – with poor communication, close mindedness, and hatred. I see judgmental, self-righteous people who walk around thinking they are better than everyone else. Smarter and more put together, too. The Church is full of alcoholics, drug addicts, and sexual perverts. Time and money are wasted on fruitless pursuits. That includes the money you give to your local church. Fake smiles and fake care are everywhere. People are used, and everyone is only trying to impress those at the top to make a name for themselves. They pursue success at all costs, but justify it in the name of “ministerial pursuits”. Churches are chosen (and produced) for the sake of comfort and entertainment rather than the faithful preaching of God’s Word. The passion with which they follow Jesus is simply the same passion they show for their favorite sports teams and favorite TV shows. Actually, their passion for Jesus pales in comparison to those things. I see broken marriages and broken friendships infesting the Church at every turn. There is no end to the lies and deceit. And don’t forget about the all-to-frequent stories of sex scandals and abuse in our churches. The Church, it appears, is no better at following Christ than the rest of the world. They don’t love, they hate. They don’t serve, they long to be served. They don’t sacrifice, they pursue comfort. They don’t repent, they judge.
What do I see when I look at the Church? I see a bunch of self-righteous, egotistical privileged brats who sit around and drink their $6 coffee and and talk incessantly about a bunch of insignificant topics. I see a group of people who look exactly like a world that sits in rebellion against their Creator. What I see is a whore, not a bride for Christ.
In the end, though, when I look at the Church, I realize that I am simply looking into a mirror. When I look at this decrepit creature, I see a bunch of people that are just like me, full of pride and anger and selfishness and laziness and hate. Maybe, this Church that I not only see, but of which I myself am a part, is not so different after all. Perhaps this church is just another social club. It certainly looks like it at times.
Or maybe, all of the lies and the hate and the hypocrisy that I see is just another testimony to what does make us different. When I look at the Church, what I see is not so much a group of horrible people, but a great God. Look at how great God’s love for us is. Us, God? You dare call us your children? Your Bride? Your own people? Why? Have you seen us? Look at this Church! We are ugly, perverted, disgusting, unfaithful sell-outs. We come to you with nothing to offer but the nails with which we crucified your Son. And yet, You love us.
God loves the Church. He actually loves this ugly little thing. As much as I hate it at times, God still loves it. And that is what makes it so different. Not because of anything we do, but because of what God Himself has already done. We are different because of the love with which He loves us.
Now, Church, let us not be “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Eph. 4:14). Let us instead be something altogether distinct. Let us look different from those around us. Why would we want to look like this world? It’s a dreadful place. We have a higher calling, one that is holy. We are called to be different.
And so I pray: Come, Lord Jesus! Come and make us new. Make us different. Make us better. Make us more like You.
Marc-Olivier Jodoin