Sorry... It's my fault!

For years, God has been misrepresented by Christians as one-sided and simplistic. As a result, there are people in this community that don't know who God is, don't recognize him when he's working around them , or believe things about him that aren't true. And if I've ever lived my life in any way that displayed only one characteristic of God, then I'm sorry.

Our God is a complex being that lives in the balance of righteousness (complete perfection) and mercy (complete forgiveness). Jesus showed us what God was like every day of his life on earth... he lived in that balance... judging those that should be condemned (usually self-righteous hypocrites) and showing mercy to those that needed it most (usually social or religious throw-aways). He taught us to live out our love for him in the same way. But sometimes we've failed... or at least I've failed. And, like the times I've successfully lived the Way of Christ, my failures have taught those around me how to follow God. I've created followers (or "disciples") of Christ that live out their relationship with God like I live out mine. As a result, I've screwed some people up over the course of my own spiritual journey.

For years, people have watched me and other Christians as we've misrepresented God (by focusing on the perfection of God without describing his forgiveness, or by focusing on his mercy without mentioning his righteousness). As a result, some don't know God, or don't recognize him, or they believe something about him that isn't true (like believing that he is one-sided and simplistic). Even worse, there are some that hate God because of the lives of some of God's followers. And, if my life has misrepresented the vast character of this incredible Creator, then I'm sorry. If you hate God because of the lives of some of his followers, then it's partly my fault (Romans 2:24). But now that we've blamed those that are responsible, I'd like you to look past the "followers" and look at the "one" we follow... look at the God that lives in the balance of perfection and forgiveness... see his son, Jesus, and know the mercy and righteousness of God.

That's what I want for you... that's what Russ Butcher (the other pastor of Church at the Grove) and I want for the people of this community... that's what the people of Church at the Grove want for our friends and neighbors and coworkers and strangers... we want you to know who God is, to recognize him when he's working around us, and to have a fully accurate picture of the complex God we serve. We want our lives to represent God so well that people can watch us and know what it means to truly follow him.