Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” John 21.22

How often do I concern myself with how everyone else is living their faith? A lot, that’s how often. There is a desire to use “We” a lot or to talk about “Them.” I get frustrated with the Church and church so I talk about it and how it could improve. Almost like, “Why if I were the pastor of that church or God, I would do a, b, or c. That’s what I would do!”

But I’m not the pastor of that church. I’m not God.

Peter was concerned about what was going to happen to the disciple whom Jesus loved. Me too. What about them? Come on, Jesus! What are you going to do about them?!

Jesus wants me to follow him. He wants “them” to follow him, too. He just doesn’t want me to spend my time worrying about “them” when I have this huge plank in my eye.

Does that mean I don’t have a right to complain or critique the church? Technically, I guess I do. But, that’s a rubber and glue thing, I think.

There are enough problems in my own life to keep me from worrying about anyone else’s relationship with Jesus. I am a wreck. I spend a lot of my time being angry at people who act just like I act.

Groucho Marx once said, “Please accept my resignation. I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept people like me as a member.”

But Jesus commands me to love people like he loved me. For the love of gravy! Seriously?! Well, are they going to love me like you loved them? No. I’ll start loving them when they start loving me.

Anyway…

While I have a lot to say about the church and Church. I will always attempt to have a ton more to say about my part in all of it.

There may be an occasion when I will say “We.” But, you should know I have a pet mouse.