Many Christians have read in the Bible about the different crowns believers receive in heaven. 2 Timothy 4:8 speaks of a crown of righteousness. James 1:12, the crown of life, also in Revelation 2:10. 1 Peter 5:4 tells us of the crown of glory. But what most people don’t realize is that there is another crown not mentioned; it is the Loophole Crown.

I believe I’ve misunderstood The Great Commission all these years. I thought it was about introducing people to Christ and teaching them His ways. And foolishly I thought we were supposed to teach obedience to His ways and even teach others to go and teach these same things.

I see now my great error.

It's Spa Day! Sundays are usually spa days. The work week is so full of worries and troubles and people making you feel like you can't do anything right. But Spadays - I mean Sundays - are the days I get fed. And because it's God's house, I even get “holy daycare.” There are so many people that just love taking care of me and my kids. That's not really my thing.

Our church has lost our Cornerstone

But I think we’ll be okay.

There are lots of Bible lessons

To give us plenty of direction

So I am sure we’ll keep our way.

I know that the reason people don’t want to become a Christian is just because they don’t know how cool God is.

I know that if I could just get the word out about His awesomeness, everyone would sign the dotted line! What’s not to love?

…Which isn’t an entirely true statement because assuredly there was a time when “it” was not done that way.

But no one can remember such a time and so we go on doing the same things we’ve always done because they were always so and to do otherwise would be to break the tradition that was clearly set in place by super smart, far-sighted people setting us up for success for generations to come.

So we mustn’t change anything.

Can anything be hidden from God?

Ancient legend tells of preachers of yore that were so hard on their congregations that everyone… well actually, I don’t know what happened to them. But!

Fire and Brimstone is what they preached. Nothing ever came from the pulpits other than hell and sin and eternal damnation.

Church discipline, they say, actually happened. When members of the congregation claimed Christianity but lived contrary to it, the preacher, it is rumored, called that person out on his behavior.

I’m so blessed to have a preacher that is almost a Peloton instructor. I think he has a few more life-coach type classes, but I am confident he will be certified in no time.

He’s truly awesome.

… As it appears to me, what we have done, in the name of love, is stood at the door of the church and handed sheep-costumes to the goats.

…