Fairview Knox is my church. Too many negative blog posts fill the internet about Christians destroying other Christians. Churches destroying other churches. Those bought by Christ, destroying others bought by Christ. The Church was designed to be a group of people reflecting Christ to a lost world and coming together for love, encourage, fellowship, connection and for help in time of need. And we as Christians have forgotten that as we strike one another with our words and create environments that become obstacles for the very ones we were called to love and save.

Those that need love and hope are turned off by the love and hope deliverers because the deliverers have forgotten that we are the bearers of the hope and love. Instead, the deliverers have turned to looking for ways to deliver themselves – all the good things of life.

I love my church.

I love THE Church.

Christ loves THE Church.

What is the difference, you ask? My church is Fairview Knox. It is the group of believers that God has called me to be a part of. Even in times when it has felt difficult or impossible, this is the family that my family has been placed in. THE Church is the global body of believers all over the globe united to praise the Name of Jesus wherever they are. We are all a part of THE Church if we are a Christian. However, we as believers forget that our church name is not the most important name – only the Name of Jesus matters.

Today, in this moment, let’s begin to uplift all those around us. Let us choose to celebrate the successes of churches and Christians all around us whether or not they attend the same Sunday morning faith family. I am blessed to have been a member of my home church for the last 28 years. Is it perfect – absolutely not. No church is – even though we are called to be the hope and love deliverers, we are still faced with the same sinful temptations and selfish tendencies that we find all over. Which then creates the battle within our souls, which pours into the Church House if left unchecked and unrealized. There is not a perfect human, aside from Jesus Christ. There is not a perfect family, either.

As families, we will hurt one another – but we return in forgiveness and grace. As families, we may say things we don’t mean – but we return in forgiveness and grace. As families, we may not want to spend time with some folk – but we arrive in forgiveness and grace. Forgiveness and grace must define our every breath and heartbeat. There is no one righteous, no not one, says Paul. So, let’s stop considering ourselves as such and definitely stop considering those around us that way too. People will fail us. But when we choose to view each person with the eyes of forgiveness and grace – we can forgive things that we never dreamed we could.

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:26-34

I say – have we been seeking the Kingdom of God first or building our own?

Be the one voice that people know will be encouraging to those around you. Choose today to be full of grace, mercy, forgiveness, hope and love.

If you don’t have a church home today – I highly recommend you find one. If you live in Knoxville, Tennessee, we would love to have you at mine – https://www.fairviewknox.com/.