She

Some times we get it right and other times we don't.  I have seen too much not getting it right recently.  I have seen too many people that should be spreading the aroma of Christ that are clearly spreading something that stinks!  I love how Rob Bell talks about this in his book Velvet Elvis.

SHE

One of the central metaphors for God and his people throughout the Bible is that of a groom and his bride. God is the groom; his people are the bride.  I like this because it makes the church a "she".  We need to reclaim this image.

The church is a she.

She’s a mystery, isn’t she?  Still going after all this time.  After the Crusades and the Inquisition and Christian cable television.  Still going.  And there continue to be people like me who believe she is one of the best ideas ever.  In spite of all the ways she has veered off track.  In spite of all the people who have actually turned away from God because of what they experienced in church.  I am starting to realize why: The church is like a double-edged sword.  When it’s good, when it’s on, when it’s right, it’s like nothing on earth.  A group of people committed to selflessly serving and loving the world around them?  Great.  But when it’s bad, all that potential gets turned the other way.  From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.  Sometimes in the same week.  Sometimes in the same day.

But she will live on.  She’s indestructible.  When she dies in one part of the world, she explodes in another.  She’s global.  She’s universal.  She’s everywhere.  And while she’s fragile, she’s going to endure.  In every generations there will be those who see her beauty and give their lives to see her shine.  Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against her.  That’s strong language.  And it’s true.  She will continue to roll across the ages, serving and giving and connecting people with God and each other.  And people will abuse her and manipulate her and try to control her, but they’ll pass on.  And she will keep going.

How true is that...  If you are one of the people not getting this right.  If you are tearing down the church, if you are causing non-believers to stumble, if you are not spreading the aroma of Christ, if you are spreading things that stink, if you are not spreading the love of Jesus Christ, if you need soul deodorant, please talk to someone.  If you know someone that is one of these people, please lovingly take them under you wing and talk to them and help them move past this point.  Help them see how we are meant to live and how the church still today is and can work.