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Had a chat with a fellow who was helping me out yesterday.
He was asking lots of questions
and it got around to our church....
"What's it like?"
I used a comparison with other flavours (denominations) to bridge what ours 'looks like'...
His response was, 'I'm glad yours is not as judgmental as .... (name the flavour)..."

This morning as I was listening to a couple of the 'minor prophets' (Habakkuk and Zephaniah)
I reflected on that conversation.
The prophet's message was one of Judgment.
It was trying to bring people's attention to the fact that
God is very relevant to what they are doing
and what they are and will be experiencing... (good or bad...)

I realized that the fellow I talked to
had a very different criteria for a 'good' or 'bad' church experience than me...
In fact almost everyone 'outside' of church seems to have that Criteria...
Not the children program,
not whether we teach the Bible,
or even believe the Bible.... but
"Will I be judged?".... by people....
or God...whoever that is.... :P

This morning I read Jesus' criteria
of a 'good' or 'bad' church 'experience'.
He spoke about
Dealing with sin (or not)
Loving Him (or not)
- see Revelation 2, 3 - letters to the seven churches

Hmm...
Interesting to look at my criteria
the 'world's' criteria
and Jesus' criteria....

It's a bit unsettling to see that the Criteria
that the 'unchurched' use
is actually might be closer than what I sometimes use..... :P

Judgment of Sin and dealing with it
is core and central to Jesus' message to the seven churches...

The part that the world is misses
is:
Jesus is Central to that 'Judgement' conversation
Jesus is the one who saves from Judgment
Jesus is the one I love...
Who first loved me....
and He reminds me to 'return to my first love' (Him)

That that is paramount
and THAT is the criteria important to HIM.

Jesus.

O Lord,
So good to hear again
what is important to You.

So, How do I do that?
....share that...
Your Criteria....
in a way those who don't know You can understand
Your offer to take Their Judgment
and deal with it. - the 'Good News'...
But
they need to choose You.
they need to come to terms with
Self and You....

So interesting to realize
that it is actually a Bigger Deal
to those 'outside the Church'
than often for those 'inside'....

Thank You for
Rescuing Me
and giving me the privilege
of sharing that with my friends
and those who ask questions about church......

Yeah.

PJ