Loving our neighbor is more important
than offerings and sacrifices (Mark 12:33), and love is the fulfillment of the
law (Romans 13:10). So love needs to be practiced in the Christian church. Sadly,
rejection is also practiced in churches. Here are some instances.
A church I was aware of disqualified many
of her members from public reading of the Scripture (from the pulpit) because
of their alleged inadequacies in pronunciation, punctuation, voice modulation
etc. Ironically, the ‘experts’ were imperfect in reading as well!
When members fellowship after the
worship service, we find people standing isolated without anyone to talk to. This
reality is due to the existence of likeminded groups. Time is limited but
topics are unlimited, so likeminded groups are busy managing their topics on time.
The isolated person stands alone and rejected.
Pastors ought to lead by example, but they
too reject their own members – ignorantly or intentionally. If a pastor is busy
engaging a member of his choice, he denies the request of another desiring to
talk to him. I was denied handshakes, since the pastor was preoccupied with his
own agenda.
I was once depressed at work, so I desired
prayer from an after-service intercessor. Citing the hot and humid evening, the
intercessor scampered to the comforts of the home instead of spending quality
time interceding for my needs. The prayer ended hastily and added much disillusionment
to my sorrow.
Some churches encourage competitions
which demonstrate individuals’ Bible knowledge (e.g. recitations, quizzes
etc.). The upside is the motivation that members receive to read the Bible; the
downside is rejection. The winners are awarded with gifts, whereas losers feel
the brunt of pain from failure.
Gossips, insults, cleverly veiled
insinuations, public condemnations on account of sins committed, dump the
person in contention into much pain. The pain is acute when the person has repented
of his sin, yet suffers rejection by the church. Then there are those who are
falsely accused as sinners. Some in the church no longer believe in “innocent
until proven guilty,” but rather in “guilty until proven innocent.” They treat
this member as a proven sinner and reject him wholeheartedly.
These are just some forms of rejections
in a church. But here are some personal and biblical insights about rejection
in the church.
In the case of Scripture reading, any
member who can read adequately well and is confident of reading in public must
be offered an opportunity to read. If a church disqualifies people from reading
Scriptures on the basis of excellence, the same policy should determine all other
aspects of worship - worship leader, intercessor, preacher etc. This would be
an interesting complexity to resolve!
Corporate worship is community worship.
As far as possible, distinction between ‘good’ and ‘not-so-good’ should be
avoided. Perfection in our life is impossible, but for the perfect sacrifice of
the Lord Jesus on the cross. ‘Graciousness’ is a viable alternate to
excellence. Sloppy participation in worship services is to be discouraged along
with elimination based on excellence.
Rejection (isolation) of members after
the worship service defeats the purpose of worship. We decide to love our
neighbor during the worship service. But immediately after, we reject our
unknown neighbor by loving those who love us and whom we love. It is our intentional
responsibility to accept and integrate everyone into the body of Christ.
With respect to competitions, exposure
of one’s lack of biblical knowledge is not enriching especially when these
activities do not reveal a doctrinal understanding of the Bible. Verse
recitations are beneficial, but the church should find a way to encourage and
motivate the losers. The church should bear in mind that the majority are
losers (if 10 participate, there are 3 winners and 7 losers).
Rejection on account of sins committed is
the most deplorable of all rejections. This verse summarizes Christ’s response
to a sinner, “Let the one among you who
has never sinned throw the first stone at her” (John 8:7, J.B Phillips).
The church is a congregation of sinners;
hence grace should be practiced profusely. The temptation is to be
super-righteous and condemn the sinner while conveniently ignoring the fact
that all are sinners. When those with Christ behaved super-righteously, HE instilled
truth by affirming every one as sinners with a need to repent (cf. Luke 13: 1-5).
Even if a person is convicted of sin, the church should exhibit grace, love,
mercy, and patience in engaging this child of God.
If a convicted sinner is to be treated
with love and grace, should not the one merely suspected of a sin treated with
the same love and grace?
Church may reject, but God accepts all
men if they believe in HIM. Christ came to “preach
the Gospel to the poor... to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to
the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who
are oppressed, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord’ (Luke 4:18, J.B
Phillips).
Christ left the ninety-nine sheep to rescue
the one sheep that had wandered off (cf. Matthew 18: 12-14).1 If the
Lord considered that one sheep too precious to lose, the church should also be
gracious to all. Rejection opposes the gospel of the Lord Jesus.
Many deem it wise to sacrifice the one
to save ninety-nine. In a controversial situation, an innocent is often the
scapegoat. The world may justify this atrocity, but certainly not the church of
Christ. The church should love and defend the lost and brokenhearted.
When asked who the greatest is in the
Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus affirmed that the least is the greatest (cf. Matthew 18: 1-4). The one who is humble is the greatest in the Kingdom of God. Unless the
church has a humble heart she cannot identify the rejected, even if he stands
in front of her sight.
Think with me please. Christ hung out
with the prostitute, leper, centurion, and the woman who had five husbands. Would
these children of God be lovingly embraced by the local church today? Who is
more recognized in the church – Mr. Insignificant Bloke or Mr. Prominent
Righteous? The answer to the latter question will answer the former.
We desire healing through ‘signs and
wonders,’ but ignore opportunities to heal the rejected, especially when he stares
right into our face. May we not be those who seek signs from heaven by ignoring
signs of our time (cf. Luke 11: 29-32). The Lord - greater than Jonah and
Solomon – lived on earth, died for our sins, rose again from the dead to save
and intercede for all, which includes the lost and brokenhearted. May we offer Christ’s
love, comfort, and compassion to all those who need it desperately.
If the church rejects you, please know that
God loves you. Amen.
Additional Note:
1
The lost sheep in
this parable refers to a believer; the lost sheep in the gospel of Luke refers
to an unbeliever (Luke 15:4-7).
