Get over yourself, Church.

Casting Crowns, "If We Are The Body" video

One very wise and clever blogger friend of mine wrote about a mass exodus from The Church and the reasons and excuses behind it.

Some walk into a church with unrealistic expectations.  Saved ex-gang members oft walk in and are bitterly disappointed that the Church isn't more like the one they have read about in the New Testament.  More like the gang they left; where loyalty and support was key...in a dysfunctional and demented sort of way, but it worked.

Some expect a Utopian sort of unbelievable lightness of being place where its all unicorns, glitter and pumped sunshine from sunup to sundown.  When this never happens they and their faith are shattered, just like the impossible illusion they built up in their head.

Mostly, however, its more a case of what Casting Crowns sing about in "If We Are The Body".

Church cliques who grew old but never grew out of the sophomoric exclusion games can chase eager seekers away fast.  Overly judgmental and overly pious people who were too busy being all in someone else's business to notice they left their own closet door open.  And all their own skeletons came tumbling out.

I know, because I've been there.  Its the reason my "Old Church" is my old, as in former, church.

Frankly, they need to get over themselves and quick.  Their friends may be impressed with their skill and execution of alienating the new person, or they may share high-fives over marginalizing a person who to them doesn't belong.  Who's not good enough, pretty enough, or been in a church long enough to share space with them.  Its sad, really.

Jesus made a habit of reaching out to the very people that society had cast out and given up on.  And now they're turning their back and making sport of those that need The Church the most.

The Body.  His hands and feet.

Get over yourselves, Church.  Start doing the work you were sent here to do.

It would be a refreshing change.