At The Crossings this past Sunday we started a new series called Discovering Authentic Church. I love the Church and so do many of you. But I also know that some of you really don’t resonate with the whole idea of Church. Some of you have been burnt or jaded because of something someone did while wearing the name Christian. Others have experienced things in the name of Church that don’t feel too much like Jesus. I get that. It reminds me of a book that Dan Kimball wrote in 2007 entitled They Like Jesus, but not The Church. I’ve met Dan before and have heard him speak, so I know where he’s at on the issue. He loves Jesus and the true Church. He just points out that a lot of folks have simply been presented with a counterfeit model of the Church. I get that and have probably felt some of that pain in my own pilgrimage. I know I have. But my hope is that in this study we can see a picture of what the authentic Church really looks like. I hope we can clean up the mess of misunderstanding.
The true CHURCH is seen in scripture as a beautiful creation of God. She is loved by God. No, the Church is not perfect, at least not now. That’s because it’s made up of imperfect people. But she is still the “Bride of Christ.” Because of that significance, I hope everyone can take a second look at this mystery called the Church. As we continue through this series I hope you’ll ask questions and open up to what it means to experience Authentic Church. Yes, I love the Church and hope you will too.
What are some of your stories of experiencing the counterfeit? What are some of your stories of finding the authentic?
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