Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, November 23, 2025.
"The things people say when they feel righteous… I can see why people run from the church… It's disrespectful. It's not Christ-like."
This was a gift given to me by Rick Patton during our last Starkville Bible U fellowship, and I've been feasting on it ever since.
Have you ever known someone on a new diet who thinks everyone should be on that diet and are condescending about it? They're insufferable.
I've been that guy. I repent.
The church is like a restaurant. But imagine a restaurant that's preachy about how others should eat and condemn people for eating any other way.
Shouldn't we instead, even according to Scripture, just concentrate on serving what we have to offer to the best of our ability? I believe Jesus—His flesh and His blood—satisfies. That's the offer. I can't make you want it.
If you're craving Korean barbeque, I can't make you want Mediterranean food. In a world that confuses experience (pleasure, excitement, etc.) with living, it's tempting to either condemn people's lifestyle or cater to it. But the Church should do neither.
The Church should stand firm on what we offer without the leaven of compromise. The question is, do we enjoy it ourselves? If so, its effect should begin to express: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control—life. We should have testimony of its benefits.
What more is there to do than declare the offer and share these testimonials?
One thing we share in common with every other "restaurant" is this: people only come when they already have a taste for what we serve. What we offer is only for those whom God is drawing.
Hungry? Thirsty?
Their appetite is given by God and is satisfied by Christ.
One way the Church is different than every other "restaurant" is this: those whom God draws—when they eat and drink the One we serve, Christ—will never hunger or thirst again.
To the Church: Christ satisfies. Declare that gospel and serve Him, alone.
To the Hungry and Thirsty: Come. Taste and see that the Lord is good!
#NeitherCondemnNorCater #ServeChrist #Church #Witness #HeartWords #PerfectOurLove