The way Cross Point has handled this crisis is no less Yahweh anointed. God has shown up again and again through my church family, and it’s restored my faith in a Father who tells us the gates of Hades shall not prevail against the church. Don’t ask me what Hades is because scholars don’t even know.

I do know this. The church is the bride of Christ, and Christ is the perfect husband. This husband has failed his wife countless times, and I’ll fail her many more times, but Jesus Christ has never, nor will he ever fail his bride. The church is made up of sinful human beings who try not to sin, but when we do we strive to repent. Paul was explicit in that the good he wanted to do he did not do, and that hasn’t changed. Many people use the excuse that because church people sin then they choose not to be involved with organized religion. I respect that. I understand that. That thought has crossed my mind. Some of the deepest hurts I endure have come from the church, but when the Father shows himself to me like he has done during this pandemic through Cross Point I can’t deny the power and relationship I have with him. It’s a power greater than any power play a rich “Christian” performs to get his way in church. I will not bow the knee to Baal even if I’m the only one standing. I will not club someone over the head with the Bible when they don’t interpret the Bible the way I do. I’ll respectfully disagree, but conviction comes from the Holy Spirit. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is sit and listen to the pain someone is going through. Jesus is the epitome of a being who knows the pain, but he neither condemns nor condones what led to the pain. Look what he did before Pilate. Pilate tells Jesus he has the power to set him free or put him to death, and Jesus looks him in the eye and tells him the only power he has is what’s been given him from above. How many foolish statements have we made to God impressed with our own credentials? “Unless the LORD builds the house the laborers labor in vain.” Psalm 127 is very clear about that you’d think Pilate would have been familiar with that.

I don’t think any of you have given up on the church, but in case you have please consider giving it another chance. Most churches now have online services, so there’s no reason not to get involved. Cross Point has small groups that meet online for my middle Tennessee friends, and I’m sure there are churches across America that have this same opportunity.

Jesus loves you more than you can imagine, and even if you aren’t aware of his presence he is chasing after you with an abandon that John 3.16 talks about. I don’t know what brought you to my blog, but know that even in a chaotic world we can have peace because of the Prince of peace. Give your life to him.

You can do that through a local church.