I will never have anything to do with the church

Howard Thurman wrote in his autobiography, “With Head and Heart,” the story of his father’s funeral. When Howard was a child, his father Saul died “out of Christ”. As a result, the family's pastor refused to perform the funeral. Instead, a traveling evangelist agreed to perform the service. However, the evangelist preached his father "into hell”.

After hearing his father condemned, the young Thurman said, “One thing is sure. When I grow up and become a man, I will never have anything to do with the church.”

Fortunately, for the church, Thurman did not live out this vow as he became one of the most important theologians and civil rights leaders of the 20th Century.

Yet, the fact that Thurman stayed with the church does not excuse the evangelist’s condemnation.

How many times has the church spoken words of condemnation instead of comfort? How many people have experienced judgment instead of grace? How many have nothing to do with the church, because of experiences like this?

May we as the church strive to be more. May we work to bring the presence of Christ into the broken areas of peoples lives with hope, peace, and love.