Dear Church...

When most believers think of the Church, what do they think of? A building? A group of Christians? What about when most unbelievers think of the Church? A building? 
When people hear the word Christian, what do you think the first thing that comes to mind is?
I feel like people have a twisted vision of the Church and Christians in general. Well, maybe it isn't all that twisted.
Guys, what is a Christian? A follower of Christ, right? When people look at the Church, they should see Christ so very clearly. But what are people seeing?? What a lot of people see is something that repels them. When people look at the Church, they see a lot of hypocrites. They see people who pretend to have it all together but are really falling apart. They don't see love. They see judgment. They see people changing their opinions of the other the second they learn who that person truly is. Doing this tends to close many doors that would otherwise have been open to minister to that person.
Great! Doesn't all that make you want to be a Christian?? Sure! Why wouldn't you want to be a hypocrite that people are repelled by?
Church, what happened? Instead of clearly showing Christ, we have given the world a distorted view of Him. People don't see God as a God of love. By the way we act, He might as well be a God who wants to condemn everyone to hell.
Church, while you mingle in sin, you judge others.
Today, you find it okay to live with someone outside of marriage. The Bible is very clear when it says this is wrong. Yet, it is becoming more and more common in the Church itself. While the Church is caught up in this sin, they still have time to look around and judge others. It seems like a lot of Christians are very judgemental of the gay population. Yes, while I believe the Bible definitely points this out as very wrong, I also believe that it is the Church's job to love these people.
A sin is a sin. No matter how big or small. Yes, some tend to be more of an abomination than others, but as Christians, we are definitely held to a higher standard than others. What makes one way more wrong and worth judging others over than the other? Shouldn't others be the one to judge us because we have lowered our standards so much? Look at 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Think about Jesus's ministry on earth. How did He treat those looked down on? What about the Gentiles? If you look at the story of Jesus with the Samaritan woman, He knew her sin, right? But was He quick to judge? No. He didn't judge. He loved her. And by doing this, many were turned to God.
Think of the impact the Church could have if they loved people. Genuinely loved. If they forgot how to judge others because of their looks, beliefs, and lifestyles.
What if Christians would take a look into their own lives and ask God to help them stop living in sin and instead walk in Christ. In love.
Now, I know all Christians are not judgemental and living with someone they aren't married to. But I believe these are two things that are becoming more and more common in the Church today. And I believe that we should do something about it. The change should start with you. With me.