Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, who recently wrote a book Why We Love The Church were guest columnists this week in the religion section of the Washington Post/Newsweek forum. Their comments are very revealing:

Perhaps Christians are leaving the church because it isn’t tolerant and open-minded. But perhaps the church-leavers have their own intolerance too–intolerant of tradition, intolerant of authority, intolerant of imperfection except their own. Are you open-minded enough to give the church a chance–a chance for the church to be the church, not a coffee shop, not a mall, not a variety show, not Chuck E. Cheese, not a U2 concert, not a nature walk, but a wonderfully ordinary, blood-bought, Spirit-driven church with pastors, sermons, budgets, hymns, bad carpet and worse coffee?

This is a great challenge for us in this day and age where we church hop and shop around based on our whims and desires. We’ve heard of going to those churches who can give you an oil change while the service is happening. What Christ calls us to, however, is not a casual relationship with His bride, but a commitment. Let’s, to use the words of DeYoung and Kluck, give the church a chance.