January 24 2007

Have you ever wondered why there’s not a perfect church for you to go to? It’s easy to find fault, isn’t it? So here’s my assignment for you! Take a pen and a pad and sit down and create a church model that would be “perfect”! You’re starting from scratch, so there isn’t any tradition or committees or boards or pastors to tell you “no”. So go ahead, you can set it up like you want!

Who will be in charge? How will they be appointed? How long will they serve? How many services a week will you hold, and what types?

 How will you fund it? Who will authorize expenditures and pay the bills? How will they be selected? Will those in spiritual authority also have monetary authority? If not, how will you separate them?

Remember, you’re setting up the perfect church! What will your vision be? Things to consider include doctrinal teaching, evangelism to the outside world, keeping the saints fed and growing, and keeping them all happy at the same time. You will have to create a system that places some in authority without hurting those who aren't selected. In your perfect church, those who need teaching will accept it without hesitation or question. How will you accomplish this?

 I'm serious. Write it down. Outline it. Detail it. The only limitations you have are in your heart and mind. After you've figured it out, then compare it to what we have now. Remember, if your church is going to be perfect, then you've got write a perfect plan for it as well.

Why, no one is perfect, you say! It's not realistic to expect me to come up with a perfect plan and design all at once – that takes time!

You know what? You're exactly right. Maybe that's why no church is perfect, either. Maybe, just maybe, there IS no perfect plan - or perfect church. Perhaps the flaws and faults that we all see from time to time are there for a purpose - to challenge us, and to test us. For what, you say? To test our vision.... our calling... our patience.... our loooooong suffering with others.

And most importantly, our mercy and grace towards each other, like Christ has already given and continues to give.

Oh yeah, one more thing. When you get your perfect church set up, please don't invite me to become a member! I'd hate to be the one that ruined it. :-)

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