Synagogue of Sinners

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.Blogspot.com

A church is for those striving to be more holy

It beacons those seeking clarity, peace and purity

And others emerging from the dark, repenting slowly

And all who are looking for God’s safety and security

There is an old saying, oft repeated, but worth repeating.  “Church is not a haven for saints, but a hospital for sinners.”  Yet, absurdly, it is often the one place where we are most apt to try and hide our sins.  We are inclined to read, and even to preach from Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” than we are to acknowledge, confess and account our sins.

A very insightful man of God once said to me, “There’s never been more sin and evil in the world, yet, at the same time, there’s never been more good and righteousness in the world.” In coming days, the spectrum of good and evil will intensify on both ends of that continuum. There will be less and less room in the middle.  Thus, society will change the traditional bell curve into a well curve that leaves fewer and fewer folks living in the middle grey areas of spirituality – sometimes described as the great gulf of misery.

29 “Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—  30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out.”   Book of Mormon, Helaman 3:28-30

Note that the bridge between the two ends of the new well curve is both straight and narrow. The man or woman who is focused on Christ will find this bridge and its beams and girders strong having been forged in the crucible of the Atonement and coated in red. 

The Church, God’s house of prayer, instruction, and place of covenant renewal is and should be a haven for both saints and sinners - the line of demarcation between the two being only figments of our vanity and pride.  In reality, the difference can more accurately viewed a sliding behavioral scale of good and bad daily choices.  Those more saintly and spiritually mature have an opportunity be role models for those less so inclined.  And those who come to church emerging from a sinful society would do well to seek safety and spiritual security under the protective wings of those who were also once, themselves, less saintly and less spiritually disciplined and anchored.

The church, the synagogue, the temple - all are metaphors for houses of holiness – places of spiritual solitude, rectitude, fortitude, and certitude.  May our attendance and work there reflect not only our sacramental communion with God, but spiritual communion with our brothers and sisters who are seeking a better life and who will learn pure doctrine from both the scriptures and by our saintly example.

Thus our meditative verse instructs and encourages us:

God will decide the worthiness of all hearts

So, let us minister to all who diligently seek

The love and warmth the God of love imparts

As a synagogue of sinners - repentant and meek

Synagogue of Sinners

Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name; and if it so be that he repenteth and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood.  But if he repent not he shall not be numbered among my people, that he may not destroy my people, for behold I know my sheep, and they are numbered.  Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.

Book of Mormon   3 Nephi 18:30-32

A church is for those striving to be more holy

It beacons those seeking clarity, peace and purity

And others emerging from the dark, repenting slowly

All who are looking for God’s safety and security

So, let us not cast them out, but embrace them

Healing their wounds in a loving, caring way

Never knowing if they will receive God to know Him

Finding safe haven as they learn to pray and obey

Neither judge nor jury; ours is the servant’s task

To walk by their side, guiding them along the path

To the Redeemer under the Spirit’s rays to bask

In a synagogue of safety free from Satan’s wrath

Our synagogues are for all the yet unrepented

All of us – for all have some repenting to do

So, fill the pews with the spiritually discontented

Those seeking happiness, searching for what is true

Does this describe your church and house of prayer?

Can those who are spiritually without find a home within?

Or do we reject these wanderers who need our loving care?

Those poor in spirit wanting to escape uncertainty and sin

God will decide the worthiness of all hearts

So, let us minister to all who diligently seek

The love and warmth the God of love imparts

As a synagogue of sinners - repentant and meek

Larry Doyle Crenshaw