I have lost track of how many books begin by telling me how jacked up the church is. Usually after lambasting the church and pointing out her many failures there is some obligatory statement on how Jesus still loves her and how she is the only hope of this generation. But at present she is unattractive, whorish, and a little on the ugly side. What usually follows is the author’s solution for making the church not quite such an ugly old hag.
I’ll be the first to confess that I’ve spoken numerous times on how the church can be a pretty messed-up place. When Jesus draws sinners into such an intimate fellowship things can get ugly. So, I get why people say that the church isn’t quite how she ought to be.
Yet if I overheard some dude talking about my wife the way that we often talk about Jesus’ bride I’d start turning green like the Incredible Hulk and probably smash him in the nose. “Jesus, your wife is an ugly old hag that often plays the harlot, and she is unattractive to even her best friends. But have no fear I’ve written a book that will shape her up to make her respectable.” See how ignorant that sounds?
I wonder if Jesus ever wants to thump us in the nose for the way we talk about His precious Bride that He is washing in the water of the Word?
Yeah, but I’m part of the church…
It’s not quite as black and white as I have presented it though. Because many of these authors are pastors that are really wanting to lovingly encourage the church. And let’s be honest, often these assessments do have a level of truth to them. And what muddies the waters even further is that the one speaking to the church is also part of the church, and so it’s really as if the bride is talking to herself.
But what would a husband’s response be if he overheard his wife referring to herself as an ugly old hag? Though I would never resort to a Hulk-smash I still don’t take kindly to even my own wife talking bad about herself. It angers me. She is my treasure and I’m not cool with anybody—even her—making it seem like what I value is really nothing better than a dilapidated rag doll that would be better served in a trash heap. I’m offended that she would let someone other than her own husband provide her identity. (Feel free to read into that last statement and entirely miss my point).
If there ever was a church that deserved having a letter addressed to it as “dear uncomely peeps”, it would have been the church at Corinth. They had plenty of faults that Paul could have really laid into them for. Yet notice in 1 Corinthians 1:2 that Paul reminds them of their fundamental identity in Christ instead of the foolish garments of rebellion that they’ve decided to parade in.
Maybe a better formula for helping the church is to constantly remind her who she is instead of dogging on her for who she ain’t. Our identity comes from our husband and not from our falls and foibles. Soiled and sullied we might be at times, but we’re still His precious Bride.
Those of us that are occasionally the means that God uses to wash His Bride with the water of the Word ought to remember just who it is that we are talking to.
YES! Thank you, tired of hearing parts of the “Bride” trash the bride of Christ. Can you imagine telling JEsus, Lord I love you but your wife? meh… not so much
This is one of the truly great post titles of all time.
Mike Leake,
Have you ever heard the term “sanctification”? Because by your blog you haven’t. The doctrines of the N.T. tries to teach the church to come out from amongst the world and be a separate people. I believe you are looking at Christ’s teaching through fogged up glasses.
Really, Jess? C’mon man, you can rise above this kind of petty comment.
And, while I’m not sure your comment calls for a serious response, let me attempt one.
Mike’s point – a good and biblical one – is that we need to be careful how critical and judgmental we are of the Bride of Christ, while it is in the process of sancitification.
We are Christ’s Bride, waiting to be perfected by his grace.
I still say something is amiss about this blog. I know we preachers need not be so critical and judgmental about the bride, but what if we are right, as Paus was with the Church at Cornith.
I think Pastors know their congragations better than anyone, except Jesus.
Jess, I think you’ve missed my point. I am not for one moment saying that pastors are not tasked by God to call both themselves and their congregations to fervent holiness. Of course Paul was right about the church at Corinth. That is my point. Notice how he addressed her. I think we err by focusing so much on the churches brokenness. I wonder if at times we might be more akin to the accuser in Zechariah 3 than the Lord who says, “Of course I know she’s messed up…she was messed up when I plucked her out of the… Read more »
I think you made your point clearly and it would be well-heeded.
We need to practice correction and accountability with becoming acccusers of the brethren – Satan already has that job.
Time to bring in the magic typo-corrector and change that ‘with’ to ‘without’.
Actually, I think Jess has a bit of a point. Mike isn’t distinguishing between the visible and invisible church. The visible church throughout most of the world and throughout time rarely looks any more holy , righteous or obedient than the world around it (sometimes worse than the world around it). I feel like the visible church in most cases biblically deserves most of the bad mouthing it gets. The invisible church is the Bride of Christ and I would wholeheartedly agree that that is off limits to bash. Calling out the errors and hypocrisies of the visible Church serves… Read more »
Blake,
You’re right, the visible and the invisible church was what had me thrown off track. This is what Mike should have pointed out. Thank You.
Well, I got here late, but better late than never. Your post has already been praised, and all I can add is “Ditto” to the above remarks.
Good post here. I wrote something similar a while back on the Youth Specialties statement on the church. If you would like to check it out, just click on my name. We all know that the church isn’t perfect. That’s not the point. We just need to be careful that we aren’t making excuses for her when we disciple/evangelize others. Like, “We know the church sucks, but Jesus loves her, so you should too.” Doesn’t work that way. Besides, the church is the already/not yet redeemed bride of Christ. And the “already” part is truly beautiful, and the “not yet”… Read more »
Hmm, Dave … I think the comment I just submitted may be in moderation. Could you check for it? Would be around 11:00 EST. Feel free to nuke this comment after!
It is not in moderation.
It was in the spam folder.
Spam! Thanks Dave …
I don’t see a comment waiting in moderation. Perhaps it didn’t register.
I think I’ve read this post before and my response will near the same as the last.
Great article. But…
the “Bride” is just fine, she is humble, and everything that the Bible says that she would be…its just that there are so many “bridesmaids” saying “I’m the bride!”.
RE: All Israel is not Israel
SBC Voices, should be changed to Big East Voices. After all, Louisville will win the championship in Basketball this year. Jeremy, this is a follow up from the bottom of your page.
Gotta get thru tobacco road first.
Seems like Duke put it to Kentucky last night. Tobacco Road in Football ain’t no picnic for folks who don’t eat and sleep basketball, and it is even a nightmare for those who do.
el correcto…in basketball (not football). These folks are beginning to get involved in football..so that will become interesting. But knowing Texas and Arkansas and the West like I do, I think CB really cringed about that A & M nation showing up to put it to Alabama. Poor man.
Great post brother. Always a great reminder of who our spiritual husband is and how He sees us.
Mike Leake,
Are you the #44 Mike Leake that played for Cincinnati?
Nope. I can still shop at Macy’s.
I’m just an associate pastor in Indiana. But I did play shortstop for the church league softball team of my previous church. Growing up I had hoped to make it to the major leagues as a middle infielder. But it turns out only my namesake made it.
Mike has a fastball that tops out in the mid-60s and his curve usually hangs. He relies on his wits, guile, and location to get people out – and the results are usually not good.
That’s actually kind of funny because my fastball does top out in the mid to upper 60’s. I hit 70 in high school but not so much now. And my curve is pretty much non existent. I can throw a mean eephus pitch though.
That’s why I stick to making my errors at shortstop.
I used to toy around with a knuckle ball. Could make a softball dance but had trouble producing the same effect with a baseball.
You mean that you could make a softball engage in “interpretative movements”…
I can throw a slider with a softball but not a baseball.
Mike Leake,
Sorry, I thought you were important.
Nope. Not unless you ask my wife and children.
That was a brutally unkind remark, Jess.
Dave, is your sense of humor hanging in the closet, that was meant to be funny.