They Like Jesus, but not the church!

          There is a book by the title "They like Jesus, but not the church." The basic premise is that people in emerging generations do like and have a respect for Jesus, but are not fond of the church. At least I should say that they do not like what they perceive the church to be. Some thoughts about the church are based on experience, some on reality and much on myth and media representations of the church. What they mean by not liking "the church" could change from person to person. To them, perception is reality. However they conceive of the church to be (that thing they don't like) that is what it is - to them.

I was talking to a friend the other day about this topic and he shared his faith journey that fell perfectly in line with the title of the book. He was initially attracted to Jesus but not the church. I imagine some of you reading this blog had (have) a similar experience.  I would be interested in hearing your story. Feel free to share it by leaving a comment on this blog.

Why is this important to us? Because Jesus is represented by the church in the world. We are failing to give Jesus a good representation if many people feel that they like Jesus but not the church. It suggests how we ought to be as the church, how we ought to talk about the church, how we ought to serve to make the church all Jesus wants it to be. "WWJCD?" Instead of just asking what would Jesus do? we need to be asking what would Jesus' Church do? We cannot change the perception of the church throughout history or throughout the world, but we can change the perception of the church in the Magic Valley beginning with the church represented by the people who meet at 9th and Shoshone.

The church with heart must continually help people to fall in love with Jesus by seeing how much they love God, love one another, and love all people. Then they will say, "I like Jesus and his church too." Consider the following scripture passage and how important the church is to Jesus:

Matthew 16:13-19

     When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

From the Heart,

Pastor Jeff