Today’s a new day! I was born and raised in South Florida. I am blessed to still call it home today. If you drive around South Florida, you will drive past one country club after another. In the same way, if you drive around South Florida, you will see a church on just about every corner. A church should look very different than a country club, but sadly some churches look and act no differently than the country club next door.
As I continue to walk my faith journey, I truly believe “The church should never be a country club for the healthy, but a hospital for the broken.” The church should be a place where broken people, from all backgrounds feel welcomed and loved. The Church should be a place of healing. Not a place of leisure.
As I read through the Bible, Jesus was never referred to as the Great Golf Pro or the Great Tennis Pro. No Jesus, was referred to as the Great Physician. In Matthew 9:12-13, Jesus shared “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
Jesus came for those that are so sick, that they cry out to Him for a healing touch. His prescription for all of us who are broken and sick, is to surrender everything to Him. On the other hand, Jesus rejected the country club culture of the religious leaders who believed they were already “well”.
I believe, if more churches would act like the hospitals God intended for them to be, there would be people all across the aisles crying out, “Finally, I can stop pretending I have it all together.” Broken people would experience true healing.
Is the church you attend closer to a country club or a hospital? Is everyone welcome to be part of your church? Does the congregation openly welcome everyone or just those who “fit” the part? Is your church really prepared to embrace the messiness of a hospital, to truly serve your community? Is your church equipped to be an emergency room for those broken people in and around your community?
As so many churches gather this morning, I pray that they will be places where everyone is welcomed. I pray they will be places filled with people ready to love and care for the broken. I pray today, that churches would actually be a “hospital for the broken” and not just a country club with nice amenities and a great slogan. ~OC
The Blessed Overcomer 
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