I once encountered a church that had a long list of rules its members were expected to follow. Women couldn’t cut their hair, wear jewelry, or dress in a way that showed their ankles. Music with certain beats was forbidden, and so was anything else the leadership deemed “worldly.”
While churches vary in their practices and teachings, many seem to share one unfortunate tendency: defining themselves by what they oppose.
It’s true that Scripture calls the Church to holiness. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commands” (John 14:15). There are things we, as the Body of Christ, are called to do, and things we are called to avoid.
But when the Church becomes primarily known for what it opposes, it risks losing sight of its greater calling: to reflect Christ.
Historically, some churches have defined themselves by their resistance to cultural norms or behaviors they view as sinful. They are anti-alcohol, anti-marijuana, anti-abortion, anti-certain types of entertainment. They are often labeled as pro-this or anti-that based on stances that can sometimes go beyond what Scripture explicitly commands.
This tendency to emphasize what we are against can give the wrong impression to the outside world. Ask someone unaffiliated with a church what they think churches stand for, and you might hear a list of rules and prohibitions, but little about the love of Jesus or the hope of the Gospel.
By focusing so much on what we stand against, we often neglect to clearly communicate what we stand for. And what we stand for—love, grace, reconciliation, and transformation through Christ—should be far more compelling.
What would happen if the Church shifted its focus? What if, instead of leading with judgment or rules, the Church was known for its compassion, generosity, and care for its community? What if the first impression the Church gave to outsiders wasn’t of condemnation, but of grace?
In John 8, the religious leaders brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. She was guilty, and they were ready to condemn her. But Jesus didn’t respond with condemnation. He responded with grace, defending her against her accusers and urging her to leave her life of sin.
The Church could learn from Jesus’s example. He didn’t shy away from the reality of sin, but He also didn’t define His ministry by what He opposed. He was so focused on the transformative power of love, grace, and truth that sin had no place in His presence.
As the Church, we are called to the same approach. Drawing closer to Jesus and reflecting His character should be our priority. The closer we align ourselves with Him, the more naturally we will turn from sin—and the more others will be drawn to Him through us.
This doesn’t mean we condone sin or abandon convictions. Rather, it means that our convictions should flow from our love for God and His people, not from a desire to prove ourselves right or superior.
The Church’s primary mission is not to police behavior or issue moral ultimatums. It is to proclaim and embody the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our defining characteristic should not be our opposition to sin, but our imitation of Christ. When the Church focuses on loving God and loving others, it becomes a beacon of hope, a refuge for the weary, and a light in the darkness.
Let the Church be known, not for its soapboxes, but for its Savior.
