Hospitals -vs- Museums

The longer I live, the more evident this becomes to me: Churches are meant to be hospitals NOT museums. A museum is a strictly controlled environment, squeaky-clean with cold floors and high ceilings. Patrons are encouraged to speak in low, hushed tones. A Museum is where old relics, dead people & outdated ideas are welcomed, displayed and honored. There is no touching allowed for fear of damaging/polluting the artifacts or getting fingerprints on precious items. Those who frequent museums are usually stoic and think of themselves as having higher intellects than the general population. They tend to keep to themselves in little clusters while in the museum. People often dress up to go view the exhibits... everything is stiff & polite. If you don't have money, you may not even get in. (I like museums- don't get me wrong, but for the sake of making a point, bear with me.)

Hospitals are where the sick and dying go to find help. A good hospital will use current equipment & methods. Coming in for help means a patient must explain their symptoms and share what happened to them in order to be treated. Some are so traumatized they aren't fully conscious of their situation or due to the severity of their injuries it's blatantly obvious what the problem is. Hospitals are busy, hands-on places. You hear the sound of weeping and crying out for help. A lot of praying goes on and heart transplants only take place in hospitals. Dr.'s and nurses don't shy away from a messy, bleeding, desperate person. Rich or poor, black/white, male or female- the medical staff gets right in there to assist and save a life. The unwell simply show up in need, trusting they will find relief. Having been in several accidents and making frequent trips to the ER, I know this is true. After 30 plus hrs of labor and pushing 4 hrs for the birth of my son unsuccessfully, I was fading and was transported to the Labor & Delivery ward of a local hospital for assistence. Completely helpless, exhausted, covered in sweat and fearing for my life and that of the baby. The midwife called ahead to announce our arrival. A whole crew was waiting when we pulled up to the ER- they coached me through a contraction in the car, then wheeled me to the delivery floor. Seeing the apprehension on my face, they were very reassuring. I showed up in nothing but a bathrobe & slippers and I was received. Same story after a serious horse accident. I walked into ER with bad hair & dirty clothes, all broken up and in shock- could've died laying on the frozen ground in the Oregon wilderness, but instead caring people helped me make it to a warm hospital where I was taken in with open arms. They were there for me and helped me heal. I'm SO thankful!!!

There are broken people all around us everyday- they may seem normal, but deep inside there's a struggle within each of us. ALL are sin-sick, weak and wounded. I wonder... when the hurting enter your place of worship will they feel as if they've entered a museum with the "saints" on display in all their self-righteous grandeur- or will they be embraced and referred to the Master Physician for healing? I'm convinced that until we stop being shocked by sin- ashamed to be seen with "sinners", we will be unable to fulfill the Gospel commission and are simply "playing church". My eyes have been opened for quite some time as to my true condition before God- I'm a sinner to the core. The older I get, the more I see this. Everyone born of a woman is capable of great good but also evil. I'm tired of trying to convince myself and others differently. We need a safe place to be REAL. I cherish people who can handle honesty and a God so welcoming to sinners. Every now and then I encounter someone who is like-minded and I am blessed.

"Those who are well have no need of a Physician, but those who are sick..." - Jesus Christ (Matthew 9:12)