It is amazing how many dating websites there are these days. I must admit, Farmers Only makes me crack up a bit. Different strokes for different folks I suppose! Anyways, today I am reading/staring/praying/ the following passage:
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9)
The news that came out of Jesus’ mouth was “good!”
Jesus healed “every” disease and “every” sickness.
Every? Really?
Every.
He wasn’t angry, but rather, deeply stirred for people who were lost along the way.
He cared.
He was powerful.
He preached with a smile.
Think about if Jesus had a dating profile. All of these things are listed. You do not waste a moment to reach out to Him. After all, no one else has compared with such a figure. Maybe this could go somewhere. You call Him up, set a time to meet, and wait. The day finally comes. However, when you arrive at the predetermined meeting place, He is running a little late. Instead of meeting you face to face, He lets someone, the church, stand in His place to fill you in on what He is like.
I’m afraid that you might leave disappointed. How many times do people finally meet the person they have been corresponding with online only to realize that the person severely misrepresented themselves? Far, far too often. I am afraid that so many people in the American church are running into the same problem. Jesus’ online profile in the Scripture is amazingly handsome, articulate, powerful, charming, hopeful, loving, kind, merciful, and confident. However, when you finally come to meet Him in person so many churches leave people tragically confused and disappointed.
Where is that whimsical smile?
The message of hope?
True forgiveness?
A message of reconciliation?
A word about really wanting you to be a part of the church?
Power for physical sickness?
Beautiful conviction?
A relevant word?
A sermon with both truth and mercy?
If the church doesn’t paint a true picture of Christ, then who is more to blame? The person who walks away disappointed or the person/people who didn’t back up the profile? Blood is dripping from our hands. Let us rise, wash, and paint!
The psychologist/philosopher William James wrote, “Compared with what we ought to be, we are only half awake.”
“Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1)
B.J. Condrey, Ph.D. 