I know it has been a few weeks and I promised but candidly, I have been way busy. This past week was a whirlwind of meetings, conference and visitors. Among the normal, I had a trip to go on. But no excuse, I know.

I wanted to touch on the “steeple or people” as I mentioned this on TV the other week and at a church that I spoke at. I think I hit two cords with this statement 1) people that agree and 2) Disagree.

My comment was simple, “I feel the local church is the HOPE of the world and that the local church needs to forget about the steeple and focus on the people.” What I meant is it does not matter what your building is, how big it is as size does not matter or what seat you sit in. It is about the people. I continued to say, “the church people need to leave the building and speak with their actions.”

This last year I have spoken at many church’s congregations and candidly, I have been motivated and discouraged at the end of the day. I love the connection after speaking. Most of it is very encouraging and motivating. A few negative comments that I have received were. “you should have wore a tie, we always wear ties.” I wanted to say and “yes you also always wear polyester” but did not. The most discouraging statement was when I was told that “our church distances themselves from people like that.” I was floored and responded, “then you are not a church, you are a group of judging people. If you left the walls of the church and dealt in your local community and around the world, you would see the hurting and what the church should do is lend a hand to the hurting, not judging them.” The lady that I said that to responded, well that is just not what we do.”

What do you do then I thought? I know, you sit around and make critical remarks about people, judge them and focus on yourself.

Can you believe this happened?