Christians are often viewed as judgmental and they think they are the only way to Christ. They think they are the only ones that have answers about what’s right and what’s wrong.

Images of the “street corner preacher” come to mind. A man who shouts at everyone and condemns them to an eternity in Hell.

You want to know the truth? These people have NO right to judge who goes to Heaven and who doesn’t. The only one who can judge is God.

Jesus said:

Or here:

The reality is the church is a place made entirely of imperfect people. Church is not going to be a “perfect” or “flawless” experience; it’s full of imperfect people who are being perfected by God in a day-by-day process of transformation! It’s full of people with dark pasts, but those people now have a bright future.

You get the picture. We're a diverse group, coming from wide-ranging backgrounds, and at different stages of knowledge and spiritual growth. We don't know everything. We don't do everything right. We don't always treat each other as we should. We haven't arrived. We're just on the journey.

But, you see, we were not brought together by any fantasy of our perfection or righteousness. We were brought together by our acknowledgment that we are sinners in need of the cleansing blood of Jesus.

Mark 2:17
“And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

Romans 5:6-9:
"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Ephesians 1:7:
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace…”

I John 1:7:
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

That’s the foundation of how we can worship as one, stick together, and, with God's help, accomplish some things that make a difference.

As Christians, you won't have to look very far to find our faults and failures, but, you will find people who love God, love the Bible, love each other, and are striving to be better people.

That's the Real Church of Jesus Christ!