Here’s my message for you today: Let’s do life together.
Let me tell you the difference between a temple and a church.
A temple is a sacred place where we talk to God. The purpose of a temple is to deal with God, not men. You immediately know it’s a temple if they require you to be silent and solemn. If you’re noisy, someone will “Shhhhh!” you.
Note: We do need temples. Shrines and sacred places that connect you to God. That’s why I lead pilgrimages every year. But Jesus did not to build a Temple; He came to build His Church. Temples are not churches. Temples are pristine, pure, and predictable. Church will always be messy, as marriage is messy. Because the moment you relate to human beings, it’s going to be messy.
Note: I’m talking about the small “c” church, which is the local church. And I can’t even say that the Light of Jesus Family is your local church because we’re still too big. Your local church are the small circle of friends you have here in the Light of Jesus Family—formed in Feast Videos, Light Groups, and Ministries. That’s why we don’t only have a commitment to grow bigger, we also have a passionate commitment to grow smaller.
This is where a lot of religious groups are confused. Many suffer from an identity crisis. Many want to be temples, not churches. That’s why they reject people who can’t keep up with their norms. They reject messy people.
In the first twenty years of Light of Jesus Family, we wanted to be a temple. We kicked out people without commitment. We had rules like, “If you have more than 7 absences in a year, you’re no longer a member of the community.” If you’re a Light of Jesus Member, you should never smoke, drink, gamble, gossip, or complain against community leaders. Because if you did any of these things, you’re destroying the image of our “holy” community.
I thank God those days were over. Some years ago, we’ve embraced our calling: Light of Jesus Family is going to be a church for messy people.
To become a member of the old Light of Jesus, you had to go through a lot of hoops and hurdles—4 years of formation, seminars, and retreats—before you’re officially a member. Because we were very careful with naming anyone a Light of Jesus member—because in our minds, that person carries the name of the community wherever he went.
We don’t think in that way anymore. Yes, we do have a formation program. And you will take it. But it’s not about belonging. From the moment you step into the Feast, you’re already part of Light of Jesus. You’re still in an adulterous relationship? You’re a part of the family. You still have a drinking problem? You’re part of the family. You’re life is a mess? You’re part of the family. We’ll journey with you and love you.
In a Temple, you meet God in prayer. In a Church, you meet God in messy people.
Friend, He meets you where you are, mess and all.
May your dreams come true,
Bo Sanchez
