Is Your Church a Spiritual Hospital?

Let's face it. Many people out there, including many that are part of the body of Christ, are hurting emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. Some have withdrawn from the church, and others attend sporatically. Still others are active in their churches, but quietly suffer through. And then there are those that are quick to let you know that they are hurting. But my question of the day is, "Is your church a spiritual hospital where people are ministered to and nursed back to health?" The old saying that people just need to pick themselves up by their boot straps, and move on fails to take into account the seriousness of what ails so many people within the church of Jesus Christ.

I'm not trying to make excuses for poor habits and poor behavior. But I am saying that we need to be compassionate, and come along side of people to lend them a helping hand spiritually. People don't need self-help programs as much as they need God-help programs. And people don't need God-help programs as much as they need a personal relationship with God. And the Bible tells us that it is our sin that comes between us and our God. We're not helping people by avoiding them, but we're also not helping people by avoiding speaking the Word of God into their lives. For example, many aspects of anger and worry are sin, and 1 Peter 5 COMMANDS us to cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us.

So are you part of God's hospital staff at your local church?

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.