Many churches today say "come as you are, there is no judgment here." This is a dangerous statement because many people abuse this.
1. God knows everything about us, so there is nothing we can hide from Him, even the deepest secret you have, God knows.
The only time we should "come as we are" is when we are becoming saved and accepting God's gift of salvation. That is when we confess Jesus as Lord, admit our sinful nature and repent of all our sins. When we are born again and now a new creation in God, we do not come as we are in our sinful human nature, but we come with Christ and work each day at living in obedience to God and ruling over our spirit instead of allowing our sin and flesh rule us.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:12-16
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. - Romans 6:1-14
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:15-23
2. When we accept Christ as our Savior and are living for Him, we are to bring our very best to God.
We, individually, have dirty rags of filth and disgrace, but when we are adopted into God's family Christ lives in us and we now wear the robes of righteousness. We sin still, not deliberately or wanting to sin, but because we are still sinful humans living in a sinful world, but we do not continue in sin. We repent and are grieved over our sin because of the distance it puts between our communication and relationship with God and the hurt it causes Him. We start fresh each day and are continuously growing and being transformed by the Holy Spirit to live more like Christ (we will never be perfect or exactly like Christ on earth for the same reason mentioned previously, but we strive each day and know that one day all sin will be destroyed and we will live holy and perfect lives in heaven). Many people today come to church in their "rags" both spiritually and physically. If you get dressed up for a date or night out with friends, why aren't you getting dressed up to worship God, the Almighty? It is not about wearing expensive clothes or going out to buy new clothes so people don't judge you, it is about coming before God with your very best. We are to come to God and bring Him glory, honor, and praise. We are to fear God, respect Him, and hold His name and the Trinity in reverence. It is not about you or other people it is solely about worshipping and honoring God.
“But cursed be the deceiver who has in his flock a male, and takes a vow, but sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished—For I am a great King,” Says the Lord of hosts, “And My name is to be feared among the nations. - Malachi 1:14
Throughout the Bible God gives us examples of how bringing our best to God with a pure heart is honoring to Him while bringing our seconds/leftovers and showing off/putting on a front to other people is dishonoring to God. Some examples include: Cain & Abel, the instructions to the Israelites for sacrifices, the widow's two mites, etc.
3. We are supposed to judge the body of Christ, not in a condemning manner, but in a loving and unifying manner, holding each other accountable.
If the body of Christ lives as the body of Christ, then it cannot allow unrepented sin to continue. Those who serve in the church in leadership positions there are requirements God has plainly stated in the Bible. Those who serve in the church in a non-leadership role, there are also requirements God has plainly stated in the Bible. Unrepented sin has no place in the church and those who are wolves in sheep's clothing or false prophets are not to be serving, leading, or allowed to cause true believers or those who are searching to stumble. There are guidelines the elders and leaders are to follow to ensure the safety and identity of God's Church and its members. So no, not everyone in the church should be serving, if they have unconfessed sin they need to first confess it. If they are serving and are not living a life that is in alliance with God and His Word, then they are to step down or the elders and leaders are to speak with them and if they do not repent, then they are not allowed to be serving. We are supposed to be the light and salt of the earth. The world looks at us to see Jesus. No, we are not Jesus, but we are to demonstrate His characteristics, the fruit of the Spirit and be a witness to others.
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. - 1 Peter 2:11-12
"For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” - 1 Corinthians 5:12-13
So instead of "come as you are, there is no judgment here." I would challenge us to start saying "come worship God". After all, it is all about God and not ourselves.
Very well said Carina, unfortunately most churches today are more Social Clubs than a body of believers coming together to worship Christ their Savior. As God's Word says that there will be a falling away in the beginning of the last days as it is speaking of the Christians, we are seeing Pastors just speaking smooth words and the focus is more on getting people into the church than souls into the Body of Christ.
Enjoyed this.....especially like your thoughts for #2! Happy New Year, Carina....wishing you only the BEST!!!