A while back in
"Christian Reader" magazine, Jim Corley wrote about a conversation he
had with a friend named Alex who attends Corley's church. Meeting at
an automobile dealership, Alex got right to the point.
"Jim," said Alex, "I feel like a hypocrite every time I go to church because I fail to live for Christ so often."
"Alex, what do you call this part of the dealership?" Corley asked, nodding to the area outside his cubicle. "You mean the showroom?" Corley answered, "That's right. And what's behind the showroom, past the parts counter?" Alex answered confidently, "The service department!"
Corley then asked, "What if I told you I didn't want to bring my car to the service department because the car was running rough?" Alex quickly answered, "That would be crazy! That's the whole point of the service department - to fix cars that aren't running right."
Corley responded, "You're absolutely right. Now let's get back to our initial conversation. Instead of thinking of church as a showroom where image is everything, start thinking of it as God's service department. Helping people get back in running order with God is what the church is all about."
What can keep our relationship with God and others from running smoothly? In a word - sin. So when you come to church on Sunday, you are stepping into God's service station! In worship, God serves you and the very first thing He does is to hear your confession of sin and to speak His Words of absolution and forgiveness. God forgives that sin that separates us from Him and empowers us to practice this same confession and forgiveness with those whom we have hurt or have been hurt by. Do you need a tune up or a complete overhaul? Come and let God serve you!
"Jim," said Alex, "I feel like a hypocrite every time I go to church because I fail to live for Christ so often."
"Alex, what do you call this part of the dealership?" Corley asked, nodding to the area outside his cubicle. "You mean the showroom?" Corley answered, "That's right. And what's behind the showroom, past the parts counter?" Alex answered confidently, "The service department!"
Corley then asked, "What if I told you I didn't want to bring my car to the service department because the car was running rough?" Alex quickly answered, "That would be crazy! That's the whole point of the service department - to fix cars that aren't running right."
Corley responded, "You're absolutely right. Now let's get back to our initial conversation. Instead of thinking of church as a showroom where image is everything, start thinking of it as God's service department. Helping people get back in running order with God is what the church is all about."
What can keep our relationship with God and others from running smoothly? In a word - sin. So when you come to church on Sunday, you are stepping into God's service station! In worship, God serves you and the very first thing He does is to hear your confession of sin and to speak His Words of absolution and forgiveness. God forgives that sin that separates us from Him and empowers us to practice this same confession and forgiveness with those whom we have hurt or have been hurt by. Do you need a tune up or a complete overhaul? Come and let God serve you!
