Be patient with each other. Be patient with your pastors. Labor side by side for the faith of the gospel, and rejoice that one day you will see these brothers and sisters completely perfected in heaven. And be excited that when you join them, you will be perfected too.

Are you looking for a perfect church? That means you’re looking for a place with perfect theology. Every “t” crossed and every “i” dotted. You’re also looking for a place with perfect programing. Not too much, not too little. Perfectly dense and appropriate for every member. And if you’re gonna have a perfect church, you’ve got to have perfect pastors. They never misspeak. Every sermon is perfectly exegeted and perfectly delivered. They also shepherd with perfect clarity. No mistakes here! You’d probably find perfect music with perfect musicians. And don’t forget, no perfect church is complete without perfect church members! Always humble, always kind. Well, if you find a perfect church, I want to encourage you not to join it.

What?! Not join a perfect church? Have I lost my mind? Nope. I mean it. Think about what that would mean. If you joined a perfect church, then all of the sudden, you’d be in it. And if you’re in it, well, I don’t mean to be rude, but you’d ruin it. To make this feel less like an attack, I shouldn’t join it either, because then I’d ruin it. If I joined a perfect church, then it would suddenly become imperfect. I am deeply aware that I’m a flawed individual. I say things I shouldn’t sometimes. My motives aren’t always right. I misinterpret what God says, and I don’t have it all figured out. My mere presence would spoil the whole thing.

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