Church - A Support Group For Sinners

I have heard, and I am sure you have, the excuse of why many don't go to church. "I'm not going to church because they are a bunch of sinners and hypocrites." My response would be yes, yes we are a group of sinners and hypocrites. Why not speak the truth that church is a support group for sinners?

We hurt each other and say ugly things and even catch ourselves speaking judgment upon someone. We tend to equate the sin with the person doing the sinning as if they are one in the same. It makes them seem "dirty" when the real "dirtiness" is thinking that we are above them somehow and maybe that is where churches have gone wrong.

I am honest with my congregation. I told them as they were hiring me, that if you are looking for a perfect person, then I am not your man. I told them I am a sinner. You are a sinner. We all are sinners. "For all have sinned fallen short of the glory of God,"(Rom.3:23).

After I told the congregation that I was a sinner, they treated me as approachable and normal. Why would telling them that I am a sinner do that? Have you ever said that? Share it with us.

As any support group, we try to better ourselves. The church strives to encourage each other to good, (Heb10:24). We strive to walk in the light doing good to all men, (1 John 1:1-8). We understand that we are going to sin and make mistakes, but we are covered by the grace of God, (Eph 2:1-10). We support each and love each other, (Col. 3).

Everyday we sin. You sin. I sin. The difference is the Christian is covered by the grace of God and we ideally have a support group of people who are encouraging us, helping us when are in need, praying for us, studying the word of God with us as we strive to get to our final destination - heaven.

This support group is better than AA, NA, or OA because it is a support group that is eternal. It should be helping sinners get to their final destination.

The questions I have are:
Have you ever thought of the Church as a support group for sinners? Do we see ourselves as sinner when we go to Church? As I did, would your church be okay with your minister saying he is a sinner, just like you? If we haven't seen ourselves as a support group for sinners what can we do change it by getting more sinners in our churches so we can help them? Do you have a hard time seeing the church as a support group for sinners, why? How does the world see us? Do the see us as a place where they can come without judgement? Do the see the church as a support group for sinners? What can change their view?

What do you think?
Share your thoughts.