Church
There's a dangerous word.
Did you cringe? Or are you apathetic maybe?...
Do you think of a building? Do you hear bells, perhaps? Rules and regulations? What is your response to this old and tired word?
Church is, in actuality, a group of people... A group of misfits, to be exact... A group of misfits, who know they don't have the answer in themselves... A group of misfits, who know they aren't the answer and who don't deserve how good they have it...
A group of lucky misfits who aren't the answer and are loved beyond comprehension.
There, I think that defines it nicely.
So what's the problem? ...you ask. Where is the lie, error and delusion?
The lie is the misfits' spectacular inability to express the love and wisdom that is lavishly given them.
The error is all yours, because of your lack of desire to look outside yourself for the answer to the question that your very life is a monument to.
The delusion belongs to the in-betweens. They are playing the God game, but only to satisfy their self righteous need for acceptance and adequacy. There is no reality behind the veil of their external religious actions. Nor is there sweetness in the fruit growing from their elaborate exotic gardens.
What keeps this group of misfits together?
The answer is Christ. (another very dangerous word)
That name summons an avalanche of imagery and emotion that is totally dishonest, often contradictory to the genuine article. It also brings this argument to a surreal level, for some, which isn't pleasant but is to be expected.
So why are these misfits not the answer?
The simplest way to answer this question is; Christ as the answer, produces Christianity (last scary word). Church as the answer, produces Churchianity
Some believe that the Christian life is an irrational obedience to a set of unpopular and unnatural rules. It is much worse than that, I'm afraid... Christianity is a deep, unrelenting love from the invisible maker of those rules.
You are deceived...
If you think that followers of Christ deserve the paradise they have coming.
If you think they are not selfish self centered hypocrites.
If you think they are not drawn by the lust of what the world has to offer.
If you think they have perfect kids and perfect marriages and relationships.
If you think they don't look down on each other for completely shallow reasons.
...And yes, you are deceived if you think there isn't a Creator and Father of all who paid the ultimate price to bring, even them, to Himself.
Are you (mis)fit enough?...