When I came on to JU, oddly enough, my original intent was to blog on religion. It was the single most important topic in my life, and I wanted to discuss it, to debate it, and to share some thoughts.

As time went by though, my blog became more political. And in my daily life, I wish there was more I could do to grow and fellowship as a Christian.

But over time I have learned an astounding fact. Despite what they tell you when they lead you to Christ, despite what they say from the pulpits, the church in America doesn't WANT castoffs. They don't want people with questions, they don't want people with problems. They want people with nice and sunny dispositions who can smile and look pretty for the camera. And whose checks help them pay for more whitewashed tombs to be built.

I admit, I've become rather critical at the hypocrisy I see in the church. Not because I'm better than that, but because I expect the church to be better than ME. Paul lists the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians; as at least one individual on here expressed, it would be a whole lot easier for nonbelievers to believe if they saw actions in other believers' lives that were consistent with the kind of change the Bible promises to take place.

As I've grown older, I've begun to accept the wisdom of "not going where you're not wanted". And not being wanted is the case in the majority of churches I have attended. And so I won't be there.

But I still am inclined to ask if the church has the right to reject people as callously as it does. Or if our very witness should be in loving the unlovable.