Warning Labels

I think churches should come with warning labels. "Caution! Bitter, grouchy, small, selfish people within!" "Hypocrisy 100 feet ahead."

...But, then, I guess we'd have to label grocery stores, too. Elementary schools and strip malls, bars & grills and gas stations. Because churches are really nothing more than people. And everywhere people are, in any numbers high enough, people are mostly the same. And some of them will be grouchy. Some of them will be bitter.

The trick is probably being around all the small and selfish while not BECOMING small and selfish. (Hmmm.... what's that good advice Paul gives? Do not conform to this world but be transformed....) It's maybe more surprising when this is the kind of work you have to do at church. But it's always our work to do, as Jesus people. No need for warnings. We come prepared. And, at our best, we resist the labels.