Matthew 7:4-5 "How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then your will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
I have recently relocated and have had to find a new church... As I was "checking out" a service and trying to understand their doctrine, ministries, youth programs, etc. I caught myself focusing on the holes and cracks. The more I caught myself being critical the more I was reminded that when you are in a storm it is better to be in a boat with others, even with a hole, than trying to patch it alone from the outside first. The guy on the outside usually drowns first!
I am not suggesting that one ignores sound theological or even ideological issues, but the perfect church has not come to Earth yet - we have to work together as a Body to stay afloat. Though the world would much rather have us floating along clinging to an individual life ring than working together as we are intended. Individually we can easily be minimized and discouraged - together we can patch he holes, bail the water, and gain momentum.
Instead of looking for a place where we "fit in" maybe it is better to find a place where we can plug in, be used, and aid the Body. Who knows maybe they have all the people they need who can patch holes, they just really need help emptying out the water adn you are the only guy with a bucket!
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