No Perfect People

There’s a funny story about a man who was rescued on a deserted island by the Coast Guard. The Captain saw three huts on the island and so he asked the man, “What’s that hut on the north side of the island?” The man answered, “That’s my house. That’s where I live.” “Okay, what’s the hut on the east side of the island?” The man replied, “That’s my church. It’s where I worship God.” “Okay,” the captain replied, “I get that. But, what about that third hut?” “Oh,” said the man, “That’s where I used to go to church!”

It’s funny because most of us have been there.

When I was right out of seminary, looking for a call to a church, one of my friends challenged me. He said, “Joe if you find the perfect church, don’t go. Because as sure as you show up to a perfect church, you’ll ruin it!” His point was clear. There are no perfect churches because there are no perfect people.

Today, if you have a church family, give thanks and pray for it. Pray for the pastors and leaders. Pray for the congregation and ask God to bless the ministry there. If you don’t have a family of faith, ask for God’s leading. Remember that spiritually we don’t get very far alone.

And finally, if you have been hurt by someone in the church, I pray for God’s healing and peace. I pray that you would not confuse the church with God, and end up walking away from both. Instead, may you keep your heart open, because God is always doing something new – even in us.

Our prayer this morning was written in the early 1600s by Rev. William Laud – then the Archbishop of Canterbury. Let us pray: Gracious God, we pray for your church. Fill it with all truth in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son, our Savior. Amen.