Recently, we noticed a leak below our church steeple coming down a column in our front entrance to our sanctuary. The head of our custodial team waited until it was raining and climbed up into the top of the steeple to find the source of the leak. Because of his diligence, effort, and digging, he was able to save us a significant amount of money chasing the water problem down.
As I’ve enjoyed sharing with you a number of the reasons I love my church, I have also looked under the surface to see “leaks” that need to be fixed. I have observed relationships that could be better. I have noticed deeper community and discipleship that could be improved. I have seen areas where we tend to be too internal, focusing on our needs (and wants) more than the gospel call to reach others. In my first post, I acknowledged that my church, Mud Creek, was far from perfect. In fact, if you attend Mud Creek you’ve seen some of our flaws firsthand. If you don’t attend Mud Creek, but chose to visit some time, I would suspect you would see one or a few of them.
But that’s also one of the reasons I love my church. In our imperfections, we scream out our ongoing neediness for the sin-altering power of the gospel. Jesus died for a broken, sinful, flawed church. He died for Mud Creek. But he also died to change those flaws, to fix those leaks, to repair those weak foundations, and to correct those errors.
Two verses in particular show us Jesus’ love for the flawed church:
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:625 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 5:25-27
In Philippians, Paul reminds the church that what Jesus began in us at salvation, he will continue in us until we are made perfect when he returns. In Ephesians, Paul explains how a husband’s love for his wife should parallel Jesus’ love for the church. He explains how Jesus’ ongoing love for his church sanctifies and cleanses us toward the day he completely purifies us. In other words, Jesus knows we aren’t perfect. He planned for it. What hope for us!
Do you know what’s so powerful in both of those passages? It’s Jesus’ job to fix his church’s flaws. I see some. Others will see more. Pastors, church leaders, elders, deacons, or teachers (depending on your church context) can help patch these “leaks.” But only one has the power to fix them. Permanently.
Flaws. Leaks. Weaknesses. Sins. Errors. Mistakes. Yes. My church has them. And yes. These all are part of the reason I love my church. Do you know why? Because each one—in myself and my church—reminds me why Jesus died. Jesus cares about each one more than I do. Jesus has to fix them. And thanks be to God, he is fixing them. One day, no flaw will remain in Jesus’ church. That’s the greatest reason I love my church. Mud Creek is his church, and he loves her more than I ever can!
*This is the final post in this Series. Thank you for taking the time to read this one. You can find the other Posts below. If you live near the Hendersonville, NC, area and find yourself looking for a church home, I would love for you to visit us, flaws and all, at Mud Creek. You can find more about us here.
Other Posts in This Series:
Post 1: Do You Know Why I Love My Church?
Post 2: I Love My Church’s Generosity
Post 3: I Love My Church’s Mission Focus
Post 4: I Love My Church’s Joy
Post 5: I Love the Servants at My Church
Post 6: I Love How My Church Cares for One Another
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