The Church is Like a Hospital...

[Cow Poke]

OK, so analogies aren't always precise, and often have shortcomings, but in another thread, OBP said....

I'm with John Chrysostom. The church is a spiritual hospital, filled with broken people in need of healing.

I have often thought the same thing. The Church SHOULD be a safe place for our sick and hurting to be ministered to. Along with that, we need the "first responders" and "attendants" to care for them.

I preach a sermon on this, using a hospital as an analogy. A terrible car accident has happened involving a drunk driver, and an ambulance is pulling into the ER receiving area. A frantic nurse runs out, sees the blood and the mud and the mess, and begins screaming about how STERILE and CLEAN their hospital is - and the gurney has CLEAN SHEETS, and they can't bring that messy bloody sick drunk into this clean environment!

Well, obviously, that's ridiculous - but sometimes it seems like that's how we are with our Churches.

[One Bad Pig]

Here is the quote of his that I use in my email signature:

Enter the Church and wash away your sins. For here there is a hospital and not a court of law. Do not be ashamed to enter the Church; be ashamed when you sin, but not when you repent.

[Cow Poke]

Your comment was timely, OBP, in that God is doing some neat things in my Church, specifically (and currently) with regards to the "sick".

One of our faithful members has a brother who has been diagnosed with brain cancer - a rare and aggressive form - and he has come to live with her. Let's call him Michael and her Mary.

Mary grew up Catholic, but in 'tradition' mostly, not really understanding the Gospel or the Bible in general. She has come a long way, and is an incredible Christian woman. Michael RECENTLY came to faith in Christ, and is a "new Christian".

Michael is having a really hard time (understandably so) dealing with the fact that he is "terminal". He has had surgery, removing a large part of the tumor, and several of our Church members have been to Mary's home to pray with and encourage him. So he's "physically ill". On top of that, he is weak Spiritually, being a new Christian. Additionally, he has shared that he has had thoughts of suicide, and appears to be having some depression. Now, I'm quick to admit that, in my younger years, I was fast with the "SNAP OUT OF IT" mentality, not understanding at all that this was ALSO an illness, and couldn't be resolved by just "deciding" to "be better".

WHILE our Church is dealing with Mary and Michael, I believe God is ALSO teaching our Church exactly what you I are discussing -- that the Church is, indeed, a hospital - but in more ways than one.

Maybe I just feel the need to express this, as it's heavy on my mind and heart right now.