neurological dryer lint

ok i got some flack about my comments regarding the church down in FL where we stayed, specifically, my thoughts were considered judgemental. and i'll admit, i was looking at the situation and making a judgement. i'll clarify a bit.

i wasn't specifically targeting any denomination - actually, i think they're all at fault, because people, not denominations, are at the core of the problem. i drew a few assumptions about the motives of the people we encountered, which could have been incorrect, and maybe i should give them the benefit of the doubt, it's just a difficult thing to do based on circumstances past. we were all grateful for the church's hospitality. let me be clear though, my expectation (and, it would seem, Christ's expectation) is that every church in the country would throw their doors wide open and invite anyone who showed up at their door in, regardless of circumstance, and care for them, and love them unconditionally. is this where we are? of course not. will this ever happen to every church? no way. but is it unreasonable to think that we, not just churches, but people who claim to be followers of Jesus, should be moving in that direction?

my observations were simply that - observations. judgemental, probably. that's because there is a right way to do things (i.e. the cool people that brought us over for dinner at the other church) and there is a wrong way (making us feel unwanted and like a burden). i'm not any better than any person in any of those places, right or wrong, and i'm aware of that, but i'm still capable of making an observation and comparing it to the commands we're given. it's really more a statement about a solid majority of churches i've run into in the past several years - and the similar experiences of my friends as well - and how they tend to be unwelcoming. jesus did some wishful thinking about how this could be remedied. i think he has a point.

of course all i can do is try to model what i feel like things should be like and work in my own community of people to live out that 'open arms' mindset - treat people how i would want to be treated. so if i ever start acting unwelcoming and standoffish or whatever, please, be judgemental to me and tell me, i need it.