NO Perfect People Allowed

Earlier today I was thinking about the church. (I know this could come as a surprise to many, that a pastor and church planter would think about the church!) As I was thinking, I was reminded of a pastor who once said it always bugged him to drive past a church that had a sign that read, "New Testament Church", pointing out that most of the New Testament is made up of letters written to churches that are messed up. The Apostles were writing to straighten them out.

I have thought about this from time to time over the years, and I have a question that I would love to ask that pastor. "What kind of church do you want to be?" I kind of wonder if he wants his church to be the one that is not messed up? A church where everyone has it all figured out. This church wouldn't have people getting their feelings hurt, they wouldn't disagree on doctrine, everyone would be of one mind and one accord, generous, loving, giving, faithful, honest, and trustworthy. Sounds great, doesn't it?!

As much as I love the sound of this church, I see a problem in this church too - Where are the imperfect people? They can't be there!

A friend and mentor of mine has a sign in the entryway of the church he pastors at that reads, "NO Perfect People Allowed." This pastor understands that the church will not be perfect until Christ returns and removes our sinful nature. He realized that the church isn't about perfection but about the imperfect living life together, resting in the arms of a merciful God.

As I was thinking about this I began to think about the first three verses of
1 Corinthians.
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I know this isn't a passage that many people focus on but it works for the purpose of this blog.

First a little background:
Corinth (Julia Corinthus - the true name of the city) was a center of trade and commerce on the Mediterranean Sea. It was populated by around 400,000 people and as a city of commerce it was also a religious center for many Roman deities. The main deity worshiped in Corinth was Aphrodite (Venus). The great temple of Venus was a place of ritual prostitution. At any given time there were approximately 1,000 priestesses who prostituted themselves for their faith.

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth because these Christians were participating in both Christianity and the worship of Aphrodite. As worshipers of Aphrodite they had to participate in the ritual of prostitution. One day a year every follower of Aphrodite had to become a temple prostitute for any amount offered that day. For this day women where required to shave their heads, men were to grow out their hair and beards and wear make-up. These are the people Paul is writing to.

Let's look at haw Paul addresses this letter.

1. First he introduces himself. (Keep in mind he started the church in Corinth) Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God

He is simply Paul (means "small") The little guy called to be something, an apostle of Jesus. Paul says this isn't by my design. It was Jesus who brought me to you so that God, the Father, would be glorified in Corinth (by the will of God)

And brother Sosthenes is with me. (Chief of the synagogue at Corinth). Paul is writing this with a guy they know well.

2. Who is he writing to and what does he have to say about them.
To the church.. (Greek the word "ekklesia" meant "an assembly of citizens summoned by the crier, the legislative assembly.) The purpose of an "ekklesia" was to peacefully overthrow a corrupt government.
...of God... Paul stresses the ownership of the church. It doesn't belong to Paul or Sosthenes or to the elders of the church or even to the city. The church belongs to God and God alone. It exists for His purpose and His glory and His honor, not for anything else. This Group just happens to be in Corinth.
...to those sanctified in Christ Jesus... (Sanctification - The usually gradual or uncompleted process by which a Christian believer is made holy through the action of the Holy Spirit) Paul begins this letter by referring to them as they will be when Christ's work in them is complete. They are the ones, and called to be holy.
...together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: ... Paul then reminds them that they are part of something bigger. They a connected to believers everywhere.

3. Paul then finishes his introduction by calling for God's blessing to come upon them. "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." This is a great reminder of what they can have by living life God's way and not the way of the people living around them.

Paul doesn't come out and slam this messed up church. He reminds them how important they are and then takes the opportunity to encourage, strengthen, teach, and guide them in the ways of God.

I don't know about you but I enjoy being with people who are willing to show me who Jesus is by loving me despite myself. On my own, I am unlovable, broken, beaten, battered and bruised, but in Jesus I am a work in progress and I will be clean, healed, strong. I will be Sanctified (made Holy).

If, like me, you don't have it all together or have it all figured out, let's join together trusting that Jesus isn't finished yet and help each other in this journey of life and faith.