Is The Church Only for Good Christians?

I recently read an article about an organization that provides background checks for churches. If a church wants to feel safe about those who volunteer to work with children or serve in a leadership position, it might be a good idea to get information about that person’s past. The article was full of statistics and inferences, but it was not the numbers that caught my attention. It was the attitude of quoted interested parties that struck me as curious.

Researchers did what statisticians like to do. They took the numbers, applied them to a specific situation, and came to a conclusion. Don’t worry if their conclusion is based on faulty logic and incomplete research. The researchers speculate that there are more than 60,000 people with some type of criminal history in Southern Baptist churches.

I am not sure why they chose to single out Southern Baptists. Do we really believe that Methodists are more law-abiding? I know some Southern Baptists who believe that "mixed bathing" is a walk on the wild side. For those of you younger than forty, "mixed bathing" does not refer to taking a shower with your girl friend. It means boys and girls swimming together, actually in the same body of water and wearing a complete swimsuit.

I am sure the background check folks were not searching for criminal backstrokers, or for the truly serious sinner who likes to spend Sunday afternoon at the mall. They identified people who had been accused and convicted of committing a felony, a significant crime.

"It is so important in this day and time to run these checks," said a church Secretary in Tennessee. "We just don't know who is coming into our church. We'd like to think everyone is a good Christian, but we can't know that."

I have a problem with the statement made by this church secretary. Apparently, one who has a criminal background cannot be a "good Christian." With that definition of a good Christian, we must eliminate a person like the Apostle Paul or anyone else who has experienced the amazing transforming power of salvation.

Jesus came to preach to the outcasts of society. Judgment will be on the basis of how faithful we were in visiting the prisoners. The reason the gospel is good news is because it offers release to the captive and salvation to the sinner.

Before you go off on a tangent and accuse me of missing the point that the purpose of these background checks is to protect our children from sexual abusers, let me assure you that I understand and agree that we must protect our children. However, my concern is that we become too comfortable with a church consisting only of people without blemishes. It is fine to have a few indiscretions, but if you should have a felony on your record, go somewhere else.

We have become a very judgmental society. Michael Vick, the football player involved in dog fighting, just finished a two-year prison sentence that also cost him millions of dollars as a football player. He has served his time, appears to be remorseful, and wants to play football. Yet, there are many who want him banned from the game for life and do not want to be associated with him in any way.

Baseball player, Josh Hamilton, has had a highly publicized struggle with drugs and alcohol that cost him three years of his life and also millions of dollars. He is winning the battle. However, six months ago he messed up. He immediately confessed and apologized to his wife, his employer, and everyone else involved. Now that it has become public, people want him to be punished in some way.

A college basketball coach had an extra-marital fling six years ago but word just got out this past week. Consequently, a Baptist college where he was scheduled to address a leadership luncheon cancelled the appearance. The cancellation is in spite of the fact that he admitted his sin and apologized to his wife years ago.

I believe that the cruelty toward animals demonstrated by dog fighting is a terrible sin. I certainly think it is a sinful waste to throw away your life with drugs and alcohol. I am also a strong advocate of being faithful to your marriage. All of these men are sinners.

The place where sinners should feel the most love and acceptance might also be the place where we receive the greatest criticism – the church. I don’t know about you, but when I go to church I want to "fit in." I want to belong, to be loved and accepted. The truth is, the church should love me regardless of whether I fit it and in spite of my past and my appearance.

If I had the opportunity to speak with the church secretary who wants a church with only "good Christians," I guess I might remind her that the good Christians are in the church. However, those good Christians might also be the ones with the criminal history or at least the checkered past. It is not hypocritical for a fallen addict or sinning husband to belong to the church. If they do not feel welcome, it is because we have a great deal to learn about forgiveness.

Comments

[Scare]

Great article Terry.

[Steve]

I was with you all the way, until I believe there is a slight semantical error in the sentence,"It is not hypocritical for a fallen addict or sinning husband to belong to the church." I'm not sure on the tense of fallen, but it could be presumed past. However, "sinning husband" could imply a current ongoing extramarital relationship. I suppose it may not be hypocritical for a spouse with an affair on the side to belong to a church, but if that person claims to be a minister, teacher, lay leader or sets themself up as an example while leading a double life in this sinful way, I think we can all agree that would be hypocritical. I believe Paul called this behaviour to task, everywhere he found it in the church.

Nice article, and one maybe a lot of "First Baptists" could use to expand their horizons a bit.