Flawed Humans
When we assemble together as the church, we are forced to come into proximity to human beings that are woefully flawed. The great challenge of assembling is to see one another as God would have us to be, not as sin distorts us. There will be times when our neighbor has not been able to comb his or her hair. Some may not have such a pleasant odor about them. Others will have blunt speech that grates on our ears. If these are the things that we notice, then we are in danger, for we are not looking at things the way that God looks at them, but from our own selfish desires for how we think others should be. “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality” (James 2:1).
What we should see are people who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ with whom we want to have a full and complete relationship. That is what God sees through Christ Jesus, and it is only looking at one another from this perspective that we can be the body of believers that God wants us to be. This was John’s perspective in 1 John 1:3-4, “that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” Our joy can only be full when we look at one another in this way. Who do we see in the pew around us? Let’s adjust our perspectives.