Many in my age group are apathetic and in some cases even hostile towards the local church.  The most common reason?  Church is messy.

It may be oversimplified in my mind. No one questions that the church is made up of people that are broken. Therefore, churches are inherently broken, sometimes in obvious areas and other times in more difficult to perceive ones.

This is a part of what Jesus sees in His bride regularly, and lovingly works through and despite her on a regular basis.

The rub comes in when believers see said brokenness and decide that they will have nothing to do with the local church. Rather than being the catalyst for change that the church may desperately need, they isolate themselves and turn into the church's critic rather than her champion.

I hope that the brokenness of the church at large is a means for us to never take credit for advancement in the Gospel, a humbling presence that allows us to welcome others into our community, and ultimately, something we admit openly to give glory to our Maker for.

We are messy.  We are sick.  That's why we need Jesus so badly.