The funeral home I worked at was owned by two brothers. They were looking to retire. One of the brothers had a son named Trevor who had gone to college and mortuary school and was learning the business. Just a couple of years older than my son, he was young. Maybe to young to own and operate a 100+ year old business, but he had great ideas. And he was motivated. He wanted to put those ideas into action. So the brothers sold the funeral home to Trevor.

          Trevor would often talk some of his ideas over with me. I think he wanted my input, but also he was, as a Christian young man, determined to do things in a Christian manner. Who better to talk to than the preacher? So it was that one day he came to me and asked me what I thought he could do to improve moral. (Moral is an issue at a funeral home. Those people are not impervious to the grief of others or their own grief.) I was pretty busy at that exact moment, so my answer was made without real thought.

          “Well, we could have a Bible study/prayer time at 7 AM once a week.”

          Trevor’s eyes lit up. “Yes! That would be great! Figure it out and we will talk about it tomorrow!”

          And we did. Mark Shearer, another very active Christian man who worked with us, would do the prayer time and I would do the Bible study. It would be for employees and their spouses and it would be at 7 AM on Tuesday morning. No one would be paid to come in early. I told Mark that this wouldn’t last long. He looked at me with a smile. “Oh, brother, I think you are going to be surprised.

          That was 2014. They are still doing it. Spouses rarely come, but the employees are there. Drawing closer to the Lord all the time. Learning, praying, feeling His grace.

          I have pastored for a long time, but that is the closest I have ever been to pure church.

          “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT! THIS IS CHURCH!”

          Yes it is. But church is packed with church politics and personal feelings and personal agendas. Church can be a true trial. But there at 7 AM in a funeral home in Madison, Ohio, we had worship and prayer and then we went out and did service. It was really a blessed time.

          What follows comes from Kassidy Stambaugh. I don’t know where she got it. But it defines real church. You may think you know church, but read this and see. I wonder how much damage ‘church’ has done to the Kingdom over the centuries.

Church is hard.

Church is hard for the person walking through the doors, afraid of judgement.

Church is hard for the pastor’s family, under the microscope of an entire body.

Church is hard for the prodigal soul returning home, broken and battered by the world.

Church is hard for the girl who looks like she has it all together, but doesn’t.

Church is hard for the couple who fought the entire ride to service.

Church is hard for the single mom, surrounded by couples holding hands, and seemingly perfect families.

Church is hard for the widow and widower with no invitation to lunch after service.

Church is hard for the deacon with an estranged child.

Church is hard for the person singing worship songs, overwhelmed by the weight of the lyrics.

Church is hard for the man insecure in his role as a leader.

Church is hard for the wife who longs to be led by a righteous man.

Church is hard for the nursery volunteer who desperately longs for a baby to love.

Church is hard for the single woman and single man, praying God brings them a mate.

Church is hard for the teenage girl, wearing a scarlet letter, ashamed of her mistakes.

Church is hard for the sinners.

Church is hard for me.

It’s hard because on the outside it all looks shiny and perfect. Sunday best in behavior and dress.

However, underneath those layers, you find a body of imperfect people, carnal souls, selfish motives.

But, here is the beauty of church—

Church isn’t a building, mentality, or expectation.

Church is a body.

Church is a group of sinners, saved by grace, living in fellowship as saints.

Church is a body of believers bound as brothers and sisters by an eternal love.

Church is a holy ground where sinners stand as equals before the Throne of Grace.

Church is a refuge for broken hearts and a training ground for mighty warriors.

Church is a converging of confrontation and invitation. Where sin is confronted and hearts are invited to seek restoration.

Church is a lesson in faith and trust.

Church is a bearer of burdens and a giver of hope.

Church is a family. A family coming together, setting aside differences, forgetting past mistakes, rejoicing in the smallest of victories.

Church, the body, and the circle of sinners-turned-saints, is where He resides, and if we ask, He is faithful to come.

So even on the hard days at church—

The days when I am at odds with a friend, when spouses have fought because we’re late once again. When I’ve walked in bearing burdens heavier than my heart can handle, yet masking the pain with a smile on my face. When I’ve worn a scarlet letter, under the microscope. When I’ve longed for a baby to hold, or fought tears as the lyrics were sung. When I’ve walked back in, afraid and broken, after walking away.

I’ll remember, He has never failed to meet me there.

Jacob Waldron