It’s safe for me to say, after 20+ years inside the Jesus community that I am now a church person. By church person, I simply mean I have mastered the insider language, settled in my own doctrinal camp and typically feel comfortable around people that argue over which translation of the bible Jesus would use. I’m not saying being a church person is something to ascribe to, but I am what I am. And while there are a gracious plenty of folks that have written off the church (and it’s people) because of its abuses, hypocrisy, failed expectations and so many more that often happen to be true, I still love the church.

Of course by church I am referring to its people, but more specifically, I’m referring to the organization and its people that meet weekly celebrating the resurrected God-man. Over the next few weeks, I’d like to write a bit on why I love the church. I find myself surprised at the things that warm my heart regarding this tribe of people. Of course I love the big meetings where the tangible presence of God is felt. Tears often flow and I feel close to Jesus. I love singing songs about/to God and his unchanging nature. I love knowing someone will teach out of the bible challenging the community to die to our own agendas and take up the Name of Jesus. Those few reasons are obvious…if not consumeristic. I don’t deny that. However, the things I really love about the church are more obscure and certainly less celebrated. If I had to use a metaphor that is even somewhat close it would be like the love in my marriage. In other words, I fell in love with my wife for obvious reasons. She was a fox. She loved Jesus. She wanted to have a family. I knew very early in our relationship that she would be an amazing spouse and an equally remarkable mom. And of course the reasons I fell in love with Amy are still true. However, what continues to magnetize our love goes much deeper and is only understood along a time-line of decades. I love the little pat she gives me on the back when we have hugged too long. I love her brown rice. I love when I catch her loving on our dog, even though she swears she would give her “the shot” given the chance. I love to hear her stretch a 3 minute story into a 10 minute story. My point? The things I love about my wife and the certainly the things I love about the church can only be cultivated while on the inside. These next few weeks we’ll talk about why I love old people, biblical elders, curious generosity, sucky old buildings, EGR’s & maybe a few more. I would love to hear some reasons why you love the church (it’s people and/or the organization) and continue to stay in the family.