“A healthy community is not a place of perfect people.”

A thought by Erwin Raphael McManus, (2006-11-14) from his book, Soul Cravings: An Exploration of the Human Spirit (p. 54). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

That is the truth. Health from a Spiritual standpoint means that I am honest and also accepting but not perfect. The truth is, I cannot be honest and perfect. Because in all honesty I know I am not perfect. I can have God’s perfect love inside me but my actions are still not going to be perfect. That is what growing in the Spirit is all about.

I like what he also says right before this quote, “We are all hypocrites in transition. I am not who I want to be, but I am on the journey there, and thankfully I am not whom I used to be.”

Somebody says, “I don’t want to go to church because there are so many hypocrites there” and that is the truth. We are all hypocrites but hopefully in transition.” Now the problem is if I am using someone who I believe is a hypocrite to keep me from God. If I am doing that then that person is closer to Him than I am.

Now the key is there are some hypocrites who are not in transition. That is a problem. They are saying one thing and not striving to be who God calls them to be. But if they are going to church the potential is there to hear something or see something and the Holy Spirit could quicken their desire to grow. But the other problem is, the only person I really know is me so how can I judge someone else. And I know that I have a long way to go to be like Christ. You see, honesty and acceptance is the key to a healthy community.

My honesty about my imperfection and my need of His grace and His love will help me to accept your hypocrisy in transition. We have not arrived yet but we are on the journey and God wants us to and we need do it together.

So how are you doing?

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