The Church as a Hospital

By Doug Creamer

There are some things that I love about fall. First, I am thankful that the hot, humid days of summer have finally come to an end. You can go outside without coming in soaking wet in sweat. I love the beauty of fall leaves. I love planting violas and seeing them bloom. I like the pumpkins and some of the fall decorations.

There are some things that I do not like about fall. I don’t like the shorter days. I hate getting up in the dark and coming home from work in the dark. I do not like clearing up all those beautiful fall leaves when they land in my yard. I also struggle with some fall allergies.

Each season has some good things and some things that are less pleasant. I try to focus on the things that I enjoy and endure the things I do not. When I reflect back on my life, I think that churches have some things in common with the seasons. What I mean is that in each of the churches that I have attended I found things that I really liked and some things that I had to endure.

For the most part, I have been blessed to have some good pastors. Most had a positive influence on my life and both challenged and encouraged me in my walk with the Lord. They were there when I needed to talk and for many of them, we became friends.

The church buildings varied greatly through the years. One was a barn. A couple of them were store fronts. I attended several traditional churches with stained glass windows. I have always found them to be beautiful. Several churches I attended met in non-traditional buildings.

Some of the churches I attended offered small groups. It is nice to develop tight-knit relationships with some brothers and sisters. A couple of the churches had men’s meetings where issues that we face as men were discussed. When we get into smaller groups outside of the regular church service there are opportunities to connect on a deeper level.

Every church I attended had opportunities to eat food together. Pot lucks were common and offered an opportunity to share some great food and fellowship. Several of the small groups I attended would either go out to eat or we would bring food and enjoy a meal at someone’s house. Christmas parties were a common thread in most churches.

I also attended several retreats at a number of the churches. That can be an interesting experience, especially when you have to share a room with someone who snores. I often enjoyed the retreats as it offered some time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and an opportunity to draw closer to the Lord.

The people are what make a church, the gathering of the men, women, and children who have a heart for God. People come from all kinds of backgrounds. It’s that unique group that meets in that unique space that creates the environment for that church. What we all have to keep in mind is that no church is perfect. Each church has good things and things that need to be worked on. The question is will you make the effort to fit into your church?

The physical building is a convenient location where the local sinners can come find a place to call home. The reality is that we are all broken people who are seeking a Savior who will redeem and forgive us. Ultimately, we hope to be healed and set free from our past. That makes the church like a spiritual hospital.

Our goal should be to not leave anyone in their broken, sinful state. We should point them to Jesus where they can find forgiveness and the will to change so they can leave behind the old way of life and discover their new life through Christ. We are called to bandage wounds and help them to take steps on the new path of righteousness.

I want to encourage you to see your church as a spiritual hospital. Jesus came to save the lost and all of us have lost people in our communities. They may never find Jesus unless we invite them into our churches. I am not suggesting that we endorse sinful lifestyles. We can love the sinner and hate the sin. We don’t want them to stay lost in their sinful lifestyle but to be set free and to find the forgiveness and love that will melt and change their hearts. The real church is a hospital that points the way to Jesus.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com