I think if we were honest, most of us would say that we’ve had a bad experience with a church. Maybe they judged you because of how you were dressed, or because of your past, or because of your background, or because of your present struggles. Who knows, but it rubbed you the wrong way and you probably vowed to never go back there again.

The question I asked this weekend at eLife was: Is it your fault or theirs? Should you have known not to dress that way? Should you have known that someone with your past shouldn’t go there? Should you have known that someone with your background would not be accepted?

OR is the church acting in an unbiblical way?

In John 8:1-11, Jesus stands up for a woman caught in adultery that the religious people wanted to stone to death. He told them that they should only throw a stone at her if they had never screwed up… basically, if they were perfect. Turns out, they knew they weren’t, and they all walked away humiliated.

Then, Jesus turns to the woman caught in adultery & says something incredibly profound.

He said, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

“No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Wow! He was essentially saying, “Even though the religious people wanted to condemn you, I accept you. The way you are living is not my best for you, though, so repent & follow me.”

He was essentially creating a “Culture of Acceptance” for his disciples to follow.

Since Christians are supposed to follow Jesus’ example, our response to this text should be to accept people, regardless of their struggles, & help them experience all God has for them in this life.

Unfortunately, most people don’t think churches have a “Culture of Acceptance” like Jesus promoted.

So, to answer the question from earlier, if the church where you had a bad experience doesn’t promote a “Culture of Acceptance,” it was their fault, not yours. But, if the church did have a “Culture of Acceptance” but encouraged you to repent of sin & then you left because that made you mad, that’s your fault, not theirs.  Hopefully, every church would say to you what Jesus said to this woman, “I accept you, but don’t live that way anymore.  That’s not my best for you.”

Be encouraged by Jesus’ words. He loves you, but wants you to repent of sin in your life & follow him because He knows what’s best for you.

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