Church as Courtroom

The final metaphor I will use to describe my observation of the contemporary American church is "courtroom." It doesn't require much explanation does it?

We sit under our steeples and pronounce judgment on the world outside. "Why can't they be more like us?" "What is wrong with this culture?"

Here's the thing. They aren't called to be Jesus' disciples. We are. We are the salt and light of the world. That means we need to be out in the world, not huddled inside doing the tsk-tsk shame finger thing to those on the outside. God is the only judge.