The First Church of Utopia

notofworks · #1 02-04-2011, 01:09 PM

I dream of a church.

A church where we accept and embrace one another realizing we're all faulty and no one has an exemption from that.

A church where every single person is safe, regardless.

A church where depravities can be confessed without fear of banishment even if it's a leader that confesses the depravity.

A church that rushes to restore and love anyone who has failed, regardless of how great the failure and who did the failing.

A church that doesn't just wear WWJD bracelets, but lives out the concept.

A church where one would be anxious to attend the Sunday after one was arrested for the most embarrassing of crimes, knowing one would be smothered with love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

A church where neither a mocking or joking word would ever be uttered about those who have fallen, who are "different", who are hurting, who have hurt others...a church where no one laughs if the soloist forgets the words and goes flat.

A church that was more than a group of people that gather weekly and talk about God's power, but who live out God's power through the power of community.

A church where victims of crime and sin stand hand in hand with criminals and sinners, together realizing their need of God.

A church where we leave shaking our heads in amazement at the love of God rather than the greatness of the oratorical skills of the preacher.

A church where we rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those that weep.

A church that wasn't afraid to admit it didn't have all the answers but were always willing to hear the questions.

A church where it's okay to have doubt, because faith that has never passed through the filter of doubt, never truly becomes faith.

A church where the famous names we all know could have shared their struggles of the flesh and The Church would have helped them through their struggles rather than displacing them and punishing them and as a result, prevented their names from being in the headlines.

A church where never a finger is pointed at another in superiority.

A church that is actually just like Jesus.

Socialite · #2 02-04-2011, 01:14 PM

Socialite · #3 02-04-2011, 01:14 PM

But wait -- can I talk in tongues, pray for the sick and worship exuberantly there?

Socialite · #4 02-04-2011, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notofworks

I dream of a church.

A church where we accept and embrace one another realizing we're all faulty and no one has an exemption from that.

A church where every single person is safe, regardless.

A church where depravities can be confessed without fear of banishment even if it's a leader that confesses the depravity.

A church that rushes to restore and love anyone who has failed, regardless of how great the failure and who did the failing.

A church that doesn't just wear WWJD bracelets, but lives out the concept.

A church where one would be anxious to attend the Sunday after one was arrested for the most embarrassing of crimes, knowing one would be smothered with love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

A church where neither a mocking or joking word would ever be uttered about those who have fallen, who are "different", who are hurting, who have hurt others...a church where no one laughs if the soloist forgets the words and goes flat.

A church that was more than a group of people that gather weekly and talk about God's power, but who live out God's power through the power of community.

A church where victims of crime and sin stand hand in hand with criminals and sinners, together realizing their need of God.

A church where we leave shaking our heads in amazement at the love of God rather than the greatness of the oratorical skills of the preacher.

A church where we rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those that weep.

A church that wasn't afraid to admit it didn't have all the answers but were always willing to hear the questions.

A church where it's okay to have doubt, because faith that has never passed through the filter of doubt, never truly becomes faith.

A church where the famous names we all know could have shared their struggles of the flesh and The Church would have helped them through their struggles rather than displacing them and punishing them and as a result, prevented their names from being in the headlines.

A church where never a finger is pointed at another in superiority.

A church that is actually just like Jesus.

Dagwood · #5 02-04-2011, 01:25 PM

And let the redeemed of the Lord say "Let revival begin" with the above concept!!!

scotty · #6 02-04-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notofworks

I dream of a church.

A church that rushes to restore and love anyone who has failed, regardless of how great the failure and who did the failing.

A church where one would be anxious to attend the Sunday after one was arrested for the most embarrassing of crimes, knowing one would be smothered with love, acceptance, and forgiveness.

Wow, ok so I can be a drunk saturday nights and be heaven bound with an embracing congregation sunday morning !!!!

Where do I sign up ??