She’s a mystery, isn’t she? Still going after all this time. After the crusades and inquisitions and Christian cable television. Still going. And there to continue to be people like me who still believe she is one of the best ideas ever. In spite of all the ways she has veered off track. In spite of all the people who have actually turned away from God because of what they experienced in church.

I’m starting to realize why; the church is like a double-edged sword. When it’s good, when it’s on, when it’s right, it’s like nothing on earth. A group of people committed to selflessly serving and loving the world around them?

Great.

But when it’s bad, all that potential gets turned the other way.

From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. Sometimes in the same week. Sometimes in the same day. But she will live on. She is indestructible. When she dies in one part of the world, she explodes in another. She’s global. She’s universal. She’s everywhere. And while she’s fragile, she’s going to endure. In every generation there will be those who see her beauty and give their lives to see her shine. Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against her. That’s strong language. And it’s true. She will continue to roll across the ages, serving and giving and connecting people with God and each other. And people will abuse her and manipulate her and try to control her.

But they will pass on.

And she will keep going.

The church is a she!!

(This is by no means original. It is lifted {almost} verbatim off the last page of Rob Bell’s book titled Velvet Elvis. A book for anyone interested in testing everything. In probing. in refusing to swallow worldviews, especially Christian ones, uncritically).