“The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.” Abigail Van Buren
It is often said by people who are critical of churches that the church is full of hypocrites, people who say they believe one thing, but do not act consistent with that belief. Because none of us is perfect, we are indeed all hypocrites. We do say and do things that belie or contradict our faith. So we the church, are a bunch of hypocrites. We admit our sin. But we remain in the church, because we want to become better.
We would benefit from thinking of and promoting the church as a hospital for sinners. On this earth, everyone of is in imperfect conditions, suffering from the infection of sin. We are all ill, sick, and diseased. Those who want to be healed, to get better, to become whole, come to the hospital we call church. We self admit ourselves into this institution, because we have diagnosed our disease and are seeking treatment. Everyone in this place we call church is sick, but yearning for healing. We cannot hide our wounds; in fact, as Christians, the one we follow, Christ, is known by his wounds. It is by his wounds that we are healed (Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24). By admitting our sins, by revealing our wounds, we are acknowledging that we are sick and desire to be healed.
The next time someone tells you that the church is just a bunch of hypocrites, admit that that is true, and then give them the reason for the hope that you have — and make clear that the church is a hospital for sinners, a place where the patients are willing to openly display their wounds and are seeking healing by the Physician who has promised to heal all those who admit their unsound condition. And then, invite them to come with you and seek healing for themselves.