The Lord says He is coming for a church that is without stain or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27)! In my opinion… we’re not even close… unless the definition of ‘church’ is changed (or the meaning of without stain or wrinkle is). Do you understand who the church is?! Do you have any idea about how to get to the state of ‘without stain or wrinkle’?
“For this is contained in Scripture: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen stone, a precious (honored) Cornerstone, And he who believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will never be disappointed [in his expectations].This precious value, then, is for you who believe [in Him as God’s only Son—the Source of salvation]; but for those who disbelieve, The [very] stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief Cornerstone,’ and, ‘A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense’;for they stumble because they disobey the word [of God], and to this they [who reject Him as Savior] were also appointed.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:6-9, AMP)
In my thinking it’s this last verse that I consider the most critical. The beginning verses sets the context. Whether or not YOU consider yourself a chosen race, royal priesthood, special people… the Father does! Why? So we can be the models, the visible recipients of the Lord’s grace and favor and so He can demonstrate through our lives, what being His family means.
It’s as We who proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness that we are, demonstrate (salt and) light. Never forget the phrase that we may be the only Bible someone reads – it’s who we are, what we do, what we say that may be precisely what’s needed at that moment. Also remember that some plant, some water, and some harvest. We may not know the impact of our who and what but we should never underestimate who we’ve been created to be and do. It also isn’t of importance which role we happen to occupy – what’s important is that we fulfill our responsibility. (My bias is that we all inhabit all of the roles at different times.)
Though it could be argued, but I think the church at some point shifted it’s priorities to being ‘socially acceptable’. According to whose definition? The world’s? Not a particularly good foundation since the ‘requirements’ keep shifting and changing. Besides… are we here to be socially acceptable? How can we be? Look at the first century church – were they socially acceptable? Or did they lay down their lives for their beliefs?
“Jesus called the crowd together with His disciples, and said to them, If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and [a]take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me].”
(Mark 8:34, AMP – additionally Matthew 10:38, 16:24; Luke 9:23, 14:27)
Not really compatible with socially acceptable. Jesus is our older brother, our model/example and He never attempted to conform to anything that would compromise His message. And if He didn’t, why should the church or ourselves do differently?
Being popular is not the focus… especially since – you can never please all the people, all the time. Too often compromise is the method and in this instance, compromise is framed in denial of who we are, Whose we are, and what we are. And NEVER use Paul’s comment (1 Corinthians 9: 19-23) about being all things to all people in order to save some as your excuse. That’s not what Paul was meaning. He never would advocate diminishing in any way Who the Lord is. We don’t water down our message.
Being a Christian is a very serious undertaking. He always accepts us just as we are… but I would argue that He has no intention of leaving us there. You don’t dabble in Christianity. It is a commitment, a lifestyle… fortunately you always have someone with you to help.
“I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” (Hebrews 13:5, AMP)
