Is the Problem with the Gym the Same Problem with the Church?
Let’s face it…going to the gym can be brutal on the ego…
Recently Cheryl and I moved downtown. It was an intentional life change (You can read about it HERE.) Part of that move involved changing gyms. I now workout on the campus of our local university, Austin Peay State University. I love the facility. I’m a huge supporter of our local school. Cheryl and I graduated from there, but there’s only one problem with my new workout location.
Most of the people in the gym don’t look like they need to be there…
They are young, lean, fit, strong, beautiful college-aged gym people…
More so than my last gym where lots of people looked like me. 
Recently as I was sweating like the oldies it got me thinking…
Isn’t that the perception of the church at times?
I can’t go there…because…everyone looks like they don’t need the church.
They are smiling, joyful, seemingly have-it-all-together people.
If my life is falling apart, why would I want to go there? I don’t fit in. I have nothing to offer. My life doesn’t match their life.
But then again, maybe because my physical body is out of shape is the reason I need to be in the gym…
And, maybe it’s why, when my life is a mess, I need the church…
BTW, behind the beautiful bodies in the gym may contain some messed up hearts and minds. And, behind those smiling faces at church may be some mixed up hearts and minds. (I wrote about that HERE.)
Let me make a deal with you…
I’ll keep going to my gym if you’ll give church another chance….
Be honest, have you ever felt you didn’t belong in church because your life was a mess?
