Stop Looking for the Perfect Church

Andrew Hughes | Category: The Church Community

When I took the membership class at our church, Tom, one of our elders made the statement to the effect of, “If you ever find a perfect church, leave…because you’ll mess it up.” Everyone in the class laughed. But this was actually a cogent reminder that there really is no such thing as a perfect church because churches are made up of imperfect, messy people.

Remember that you’re a sinner too.
One of the subversive aspects of sin is how it makes other’s issues more glaring in our eyes than our own issues that might be exactly the same. One of the problems with looking for the “perfect” church is that underlying this quest there could be the fundamental assumption that we have "arrived," spiritually-speaking (Matthew 7:5).

Remember that your gifts, desires, and abilities are unique.
It’s easy to think, “I sure wish our church was better at ________” and then just walk away hoping that it will magically solve itself one day. Consider that maybe your observations, desires, and interests in that area are God’s way of using you as a unique member in that body (1 Corinthians 12).  If you see a problem or need, come up with a solution and solve it! Don’t wait for others. God may have called them to other tasks that moment.

Remember that each local church has its own corporate strengths and gifting.
Tim Keller points this very reality out: “It can also be argued that no one congregation has all the spiritual gifts (at least not all in proportion) and is therefore unable to do all things equally well. Local churches, just like individual believers, should humbly acknowledge their limitations and recognize that they are just one part of the whole body of Christ in a city, region, or nation.” (Center Church, 293).

Maybe you find yourself in a church that seems awfully imperfect. Welcome to the club! We’re all part of making it the mess it is! Let this be a reminder that the church isn’t our savior. Jesus alone is.

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1 Corinthians 12:21-27, NIV
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.