The Ugliest Woman You’ve Ever Seen

There is an old anecdote told as a true story: At a large meeting of many participating churches, the ministers sat on the platform during the services. Before a service, one preacher came onto the platform and sat down beside another whom he knew only by reputation. After sitting there looking out over the congregation, the just-seated preacher tried to strike up a conversation. Leaning over to the preacher he had sat beside and pointing out to the congregation he said, “Look at that lady sitting over there on the left towards the end of the pew about three rows up from the back. See her?” “Yes,” replied the other. “Isn’t she the ugliest woman you have ever seen?” remarked the first. With affront, the other responded, “That’s my wife!” The offending chatterer, trying to save himself, quick-wittedly reacted, “Oh, not her! The lady sitting beside her,” to which the offended retorted, “That’s my daughter.” The description would have been inappropriately offensive of any lady, but it was especially egregious because of the relationship of the women to the offended preacher. Jesus Christ is the already-seated preacher. Constantly today, folks feel free to criticize the Church. They say flagrantly insulting things about her. If they could hear Jesus, they would hear Him say, “But that is my Bride.” The defamers might try to save themselves by saying, “Oh, I’m not criticizing the Church, just the people who comprise it,” to which Jesus would respond, “But, those are my children.” There is great criticism of the Church today. I do not use “criticize” in the sense of “to evaluate” but in the sense “to find fault.” Every opportunity possible folk seek to disparage the Church. Sadly, much of this calumny comes from within the Church or from those who have left it. It is open season for finding fault with the Church. It is popular to do so. It is applauded when done. Four quick concessions: First, I realize that the true Church is not the meeting of people in a building. Yet, from the beginning those of the true Church did regularly meet in a gathering. Second, there is that about the visible, gathered church which merits candid criticism. But that criticism should be of the layers of human constructs and conventions imposed and overlaid upon the Church. Carnal indulgences, hypocritical prejudices, and worldly assimilations should be outrightly exposed and condemned—by the Church. Third, the Church should recognize that some criticisms are accurate or at least have kernels of truth. Fourth, the Church should be quick to and constant in self-examination. Concessions noted, it is still a sad, travesty the way folks are so quick to say such disparaging things about the Church. It ought to be remembered that not only is the Church Jesus’ Bride, but also that He “purchased [her] with His own blood,” (Acts 20:28). Those who have left or who have stayed unhappily within the church who lob these slanderous diatribes at the her often, seeking to appear spiritual, say, “Oh, I love Jesus dearly. I just don’t like the church. It’s awful.” To those I would like to address another Biblical analogy: Scripture notes that the Church is the body of Christ of which He is the head. Now, not to mix analogies but to illustrate, remember the Church is also God’s Bride. Let’s bring this down to real life. Suppose a young man says to his fiancé, “You know I really love your head. But, I don’t like your body; it’s so ugly. Let me point out to you what I find so repulsive about it.” Most would protest and say that dichotomy cannot exist—the young man cannot just love his fiancé's head and not her body. Ludicrous as that may seem, many are making that claim. “I love Jesus but can’t stand the Church.” I love the Head but not the Body. No! If you love the Head, you will love the Body. If you truly love Jesus, you will love the people of God, the Church. I want to declare, “I love the Church, Jesus’ Church, Jesus’ Body.” I love the Church that meets visibly and physically in our facilities at Union Pentecostal Church, Dayton, OH. That’s why you might find me offended if you tell me she is “the ugliest woman you’ve ever seen.”

The Ugliest Woman You’ve Ever Seen

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