If someone says to you in church, "Why is she/he here?" and points to a lady or man who is known to be a liar, cheater, abuser, user, or all round stirrer remind them that church is a hospital for sick people.
Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor- sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."
God sent His son to heal us. He made his church a free sanctuary for all those that are sick and that includes everyone of us. None of us deserve His mercy and attention and God does not practice privately only for those that can afford it. His prescriptions are free of charge, ready to be collected through His body the church.
If the churches were full only of self righteous people the church would be very sick.
Don't judge who is sitting in the pews, praise God that they are there and that by God's Grace they will be healed of their sins.
We need to celebrate God's open arms to all the sick and embrace them in our churches, minister to them by our love and non judgement so that they see the light and ask for forgiveness and healing. That includes the shepherds and the flock, none of us are spotless.
If we are to see miracles of healing in our hospitals/churches then we need to be open receivers of the sick and dying souls that sit among us. Pouring love into their wounds and offering solace to their failing hearts. We need also to be observant of our own sins at the same time and asking pardon for our own sickness that causes us to judge with a false righteous mind.
If there is no healing in our churches and they appear soulless perhaps we need to heed Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people?Are our own prejudices keeping the sick away, are we pouring the medicine down the drains with our opinions and lack of love? We must be mindful of God's question: "Why is there no healing for the wounds of my people" (and we must add) in this church?
Let us all sing these words from Psalm 103:2-4 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.
Father may we not be responsible for turning away the sick from our churches but be the forerunners of Your Love and compassion. Amen
