July 19, 2019

Recently I’ve been thinking about who we want in our church. What would be the necessary qualifications for attending FUMC Temple?

If the qualification is to be perfect, then the only two people in the sanctuary on Sunday morning would be Norman and me. The problem is that Norman falls asleep whenever I preach so that wouldn’t work.

Here’s the bottom line.

If you are white, black, brown, yellow, red, or covered in polka dots, you qualify. If you are tall, short, fat, thin, old, young, straight, gay, or somewhere in between, you qualify. If you are rich, poor, smart, dumb, sad or happy, you qualify. If you are conservative, liberal, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Communist, Socialist, or anarchist, you qualify. If your life is easy or hard, you qualify. If you are sick or healthy, you qualify. If you are struggling with an addiction, you qualify. If you aren’t struggling with an addiction, you qualify. If you are a meat and potatoes sort of person or a vegetarian, you qualify. If you are a health nut or a couch potato, you qualify. If you are one of those people who is searching or someone who has already got it all figured out, you qualify. Even if you are one of those people who pretends yoga is real exercise, you qualify.

If you don’t find yourself in the last paragraph and are still wondering if you are welcome in our church, just know this. If you are breathing and want to deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ, our church wants you here. That pretty well sums it up.

When the Pharisees criticize Jesus for associating with sinners, he says, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, but sick people do. Go and learn what this means: I want mercy and not sacrifice. I didn’t come to call righteous people, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:12-13)

Don’t worry about being good enough to come to church. None of us are. Come anyways.

Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, I know I am not the person you planned me to be. Guide and mold me. Make me better than I am. I pray that when I die, I see your face. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Also, as an added benefit to coming to our church, you will hear the greatest sermons since the Sermon on the Mount. – Really.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.

Tom Robbins