Walls

Over the past few weeks, I've been thinking a lot (again) about the topic of walls. The ones we put up when we walk into the four walls of a church specifically. Do you have walls? Let me elaborate.

There are 2 kinds of walls that have been on my mind. The first is a wall that goes up when you see a new person that doesn't fit your image of a Christian church goer. You know, the weirdos...the freaks....the strange-looking people that make your skin crawl a little. Someone like these folks:





Do these people belong in your church? Would you welcome them if they walked in the doors of your sanctuary? What about people who don't fit the socioeconomic level or racial or cultural norms in your church? Would you sit in the same pew with these people?




Do we, even subconsciously, have a wall up that says "I'm better than them"? Do we think that 'doing church' with those kind of people somehow deteriorates the value of our worship? Do we only share space with people like us? Do we scoot down the pew if they sit next to us? If so, who will reach all of these people (above)? Do we somehow have a corner on the grace extended by Christ when He shed His blood? Did He die only for people like us?

And the other sort of wall that has been on my mind is the wall we put up to hide ourself from everyone else? Do we hide our pasts? Or even more, our present? Do we cover our silent struggles, the sin areas that we wrestle with every day? Do we put on a "pretty face" for church and then immediately fall apart once we get in the car to head home? Do we feel like we can only be a "good Christian" if we have it all together?

You know what?

When new people walk into our churches and feel unwelcome because they don't fit in, don't look like the rest of the crowd, don't fit the same cookie cutter mold.... maybe they weren't raised in a church & don't know the songs, maybe they feel dirty & evil and unworthy of being there.....those people need to see the truth of who we are! If we always look (both physically & emotionally) like our lives are perfect models of Christianity, we will never reach anyone. How often do we shoot the wounded who walk into our church doors? Do we look at them & turn up our noses because they make us uncomfortable due to their addictions or problems that bother us? Do we just ignore them & never bother a simple hello? If you throw up a wall & pretend to be perfect & sinless, new people will run! I know I would!!

We need to be transparent in the church. We need to let down our own walls & uncover the things that are hurting us. We need to breathe deeply & open up our lives to the people in our churches. Do you struggle with alcohol or drugs? Do you have an issue with gossiping or lying? Do you live with gluttony & lust? Do you struggle to make ends meet all week & can't afford to put a dime in the offering plate? Please, by all means, share that. Talk about it. We are NOT perfect. NONE of us have it all together. Bring your struggles to the altar & share them with your church family. Allow them to pray for you & hold you accountable.


Let down your walls, folks.