The Local Church: Imagine What Could Be

I try to orient my life around the current reality of the world. Ask any of my friends and they’ll tell you, I don’t dwell much on the past and don’t like to stay there. I’ve been trying to imagine what our churches and spiritual communities could be in the world. Over the last two years, I’ve started to get a glimmer of the powerful healing and reconciliation that is possible in a faith community. I’m being honest when I said that a few years ago, I was pretty convinced that most churches did more harm than good in the world. There are certainly moments when I still think that. When I look around at all of the pain, hate, anxiety, and fear in our world right now, I have a lot of questions. To me, it seems like organizations and institutions need to do a better job of being a part of the solution and the healing that desperately needs to take place in the world. I don’t know a better organization to do this hard work than the church. But so often, I think churches get caught up in the same politics, hate, fear, and division that exists in our country and continue to perpetuate harm among people. I’m no marketing expert, but I don’t see how perpetuating hate and division is helpful in showing people the love of God.

Over the last few years, my imagination about what could be possible has started to heal. For about a decade, I felt pretty hopeless that the church could be this place. But now, I think it’s possible. In the last few years, I’ve seen real examples of the local church being a place of healing, acceptance, love, non-judgment, and justice. I want to be a part of a church that lives those values out in the world.

I’m still hopeful for the possibility that the church can be this place in the world. Our world is in need of such deep healing, reconciliation, restoration and love. As I’ve seen this happening in my own life, I am excited for the day when this is more of a reality for people who show up in churches around the world. I’m excited for the day when the local church does more good than harm for people. I’m excited for the day when the church really reflects God’s love, acceptance, and warm embrace of all of God’s people. I don’t think we’re there yet - but I think it is possible. In this season, I’m praying for this new reality to come to be and working in my own life to be a person who lives out these values as a Christ-follower.