Eugene Peterson, in His Book The Pastor, makes this observation:

“Congregation is composed of people, who upon entering a church, leave behind what people on the street name or call them. A church can never be reduced to a place where goods and services are exchanged. It must never be a place where a person is labeled. It can never be a place where gossip is perpetuated. Before anything else, it is a place where a person is named and greeted, whether implicitly or explicitly, in Jesus’ name. A place where dignity is conferred.”

This is a concept I will be pondering for a long while. A long time ago, I began lessening the number of times I referred to the people in our gathering as a “church” and instead chose to use the term “congregation”, which I feel is a more accurate description and less confusing to those who are unacquainted with the differences between a gathering within a building and the Body of Christ across the world. But these words hit me. If I were to ask the people within our congregation (and I will be asking!) if this is what they experience, what would they say?

There are times I feel we do a very good job at some – possibly most – of these areas. But I know of times when this has not been true.

I am asking God to grow me into a pastor who fosters this kind of congregation. I am praying that our gatherings will be times for people to discover who they are in Christ and just how deep is God’s love for them. I am asking God to help me be aware of each individual – each child of God – and to treat each person with dignity. I pray that we will never allow gossip a seat at the table, but will be a place of grace and encouragement, a place where we expect the best, and pray for our sisters and brothers when less than the best is expressed.

Would you pray for this with me?

The “Church” has, in recent years, developed a well-deserved bad reputation. May we be a congregation that demonstrates the love and grace God has for His children.