The Church of Nice 

   “The church cannot be the salt of the earth if we keep sugar-coating the Gospel.’ (Author Unknown) 

   In conversations with others, we have spoken of what we call the “Church of the Nice”.  What we mean by that is it seems so many in the church today are more interested in getting people in the pews and keeping them there rather than teaching the truths of the Gospel.

   Jesus warned us very clearly, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9: 23).  But these words aren’t what people want to hear; they don’t want to consider that Christianity is not an easy path and there will be crosses to bear and difficulties to overcome.  Rather, they want to focus on the “softer”, more forgiving side of our Lord.

   Sin is rarely the focus of our homilies although sin was the downfall of mankind in the Garden of Eden and continues to be the bane of all humanity.  To avoid the subject doesn’t make it go away, it just makes it more prevalent.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6: 23).  If we are not taught the pitfalls and dangers of sin, we are far less likely to recognize the sins in our life, and the need for confession and repentance.

   We may squirm a bit when the priest touches on the sins we are committing, but it is vital that we be challenged to recognize our sins and turn from them into the loving arms of our Lord.

   Easy-going sermons with few references to sin and evil may make for a more comfortable feeling, but they do nothing to save our soul.  We don’t need a “Church of the Nice”, we need a church that teaches the truths of the Gospels.

 

Lord, we don’t like to think about our sins.  Convict us and remind us that sin will not enter the kingdom of God.  Put upon our hearts sorrow and repentance for our wrongs.  Amen