Is Church Safe?

Many of us will gather in churches to worship across the land today.  I will too, though it will not be in a traditional format.  Currently, I am between churches, so to speak..  As I have thought about this over the last few weeks, a question has come to mind that I want to ask those of you who read my blog.

Is Your Church Safe?

Let me explain what I  mean.  Few, if any of you,  will face persecution today.   We don’t really have to fear that here in the United States.  Most of us will gather in a nice building that keeps us safe from the weather, so we will be safe from the elements.  No, I mean something completely different.

Is Your Church Safe Enough To Ask Tough Questions?

Can you ask tough questions in your church?  Can you do this without fear?  Are you able to really open up and ask something that has troubled you for a long time?  Do you fear what will happen if you ask a question that may be outside the box?

Is Your Church Safe Enough To Be Different?

What happens if you think differently than the pastor and the deacons?  Or your Sunday school teacher or small group leader?  Do you fear being ostracized?  What happens if you don’t vote the party line?  What happens if you aren’t a yes man?

Is Your Church Safe Enough To Challenge The Status Quo?

What happens when you challenge the “We’ve always done it that way” mentality?  Do you feel comfortable sharing your ideas about what would make your church better?  What happens if you ask tough questions?  Do you fear you will be shoved aside if you do?

I believe that church is the place where we should be able to ask tough questions, where we should be able to be different and challenge the status quo.  Why?  Because the church is made up of many members just like your body.  The finger is different from the pancreas.  The eye is different from the ear.  They are different, but they make up the body.  I suppose none of us would want to be an appendix, which doesn’t seem to do anything but rupture and make the body sick.  But each member of your body feels safe being there.  So should we in our churches.

Have you ever been in a situation where you did not feel safe to do these things in your church?