The Same Isn't Equal

I was reminded recently of a simple fact:  the same thing is not always equal.  Once I tried on a pair of pants that fit me well so I pull another pair of the same size off the rack.  Like many people I assumed another pair of pants of the same brand and size would fit exactly the same.  Being a rather idealistic and ignorant clothes shopper, I was shocked when they didn't!  This shouldn't have been a surprise, but it was.

How many times have you ordered the "same thing" at a restaurant and found your experience to be very different?  One cut of beef was tender and another time you were a bit disappointed because the same dish did not measure up to the previous one.  It was likely a different chef preparing the food and a different steak (for which we should be very glad), so of course it was different.  Two cars of the same year, make and model can be in very different condition after a few years because of how they were handled by their owners.  Not all brands of tools, paintbrushes, caulking guns and mousetraps perform the same.  The design, purpose and price may be identical, but the quality and durability are without comparison.

If we understand this concerning clothes, food, cars and tools, why is it some lump all churches or Christians together as being the same?  A person who has had a negative experience with one church or pastor can think all others must be the same and thus should be avoided.  Because one church of a particular denomination proved toxic, it would be illogical to conclude all others must be the same--when they are attended by totally different people!  Like a pre-owned vehicle, many miles have been traveled and the people in each church have needs as diverse as the injuries needing treatment by a medic on a field of battle or by doctors in a cancer ward.  Christians are in fellowship in a church precisely because we realise we are wretched sinners:  we need a Saviour!  We reconginse our need to grow, learn and desire to draw near to God in worship, obedience and service, to give and receive according to God's will.

An old saying relevant to this point says, "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater."  I am reminded of the Little House on the Prairie book series and how Laura described how the water was drawn and heated so each family member could bathe one at a time, oldest to youngest.  By the time all had bathed the water was dirty and would be thrown out.  No father or mother who loves their little one would throw out their child along with the dirty bathwater, yet many professing Christians have done just that.  They have written off all churches of a particular group, not due to doctrinal issues, but because of personal offence or perceived ineffectiveness of preaching or ministry.

To write off church fellowship because of a bad experience is like saying "Mousetraps are useless" because the ones you bought caught no mice.  We recently had a mouse in our garage and the first two kinds of traps I bought were picked clean night after night.  I went online and bought traps of a different brand of a similar design and the results were immediate.  The vast difference of the effectiveness of mousetraps reminded me the same things aren't always equal.  I continued to buy different mousetraps because I needed to catch an elusive mouse, and I urge you to press on to be connected with a local church because you are part of the church.  Perhaps you are one who has abandoned all faith in Christ and left the church due to hurt and offence.  You might be one who is not interested to even visit a church because of the hateful or hypocritical Christians you have known.  My experience with churches and mousetraps bring me to a similar conclusion:  the same thing is not always equal.

So you've had a bad experience or been put off from church fellowship because of what others have said:  will you heed the exhortation of God's word in Hebrews 10:23-25:  "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."  The assembling of Christians together is more than meeting up in one place:  it is the complete unity of heart and soul as one in joyful obedience and submission to Jesus Christ in faith.  Let us not allow anything to dim the glorious goodness of our Saviour, the Head of the Body the church.  Never justify disobedience to your Saviour to forsake fellowship because of the faults of sinners.