What say you?

Ran across an interesting quote today that I’m still digesting. What do you have to say?

“Perhaps it is in this awareness of the ‘needs of the other’ that we, as an increasingly crabby church, can reconnect with the Jesus of the Whole Gospel, our Savior and lover of our souls; forgetting our own petty inconveniences and embracing the true pain and suffering that is going on around us. Teaching, showing, and demonstrating the compassion of the Good Samaritan could be the ounce of cure that is needed to prevent the spiritual burden of navel gazing upon our own boring and meaning deprived lives.”

“How’s your church doing?”

When I hear this question, I know what’s being asked.

• How many people showed up on Sunday?
• What is the giving like?
• What percentage of your congregation is serving at the church?
• What kind of “Big Days” did you pull off?

As of recently I’ve been wanting to answer that question like this:

“Well, the Church that I am a part of is doing great!  In fact, it is doing better than ever because God said that He will build His church.  Now are you asking about how THE church is doing, or are you asking how our people are doing?  If that’s the case, then I would say that they are

Broken

Unemployed

Recently Divorced

Hurting

BUT

Totally depending on Jesus and the expression of him through the local fellowship of believers that I am a part of.

Continually moving towards maturity in their love for God and their obedience to loving others without agenda.

So I guess we’re doing pretty good.”

Don’t ask me how my church is doing.  That’s easy to answer.

Ask me how the people are doing.  That’s a messier story, but it’s authentic, it’s relational, and can be life-changing.