Hi Eric,
I too have often heard people who profess to be Christians use the excuse that the church is full of hypocrites as a reason not to go. And it’s clear that they are scandalized by this, but sometimes I wonder why. Because if there’s one thing that is central to the Christian faith, it’s the idea that we’ve all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). And though it is clear that we should not sin (Matthew 5:48), it is also clear that we do.
There’s a famous saying often attributed to St. John Chrysostom that says, “The Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners,” which echoes the words of our Lord in Luke: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31–32)
Another thing I often hear people say is that they do not need to go to church to worship God. But as you rightfully point out, the Church is described as a body — and not just any body, but the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12–27). So the Church has a divine element to her because she has Christ as her head, and she is not just united to Him but is actually part of Him — His Body. So why would one assume that they can be a part of Christ while shunning His Body?
The Church also has a divine origin — namely Christ Himself (Matthew 16:18) — and is divinely sustained (Matthew 28:20). One thing that all bodies must have is a soul, and the Church, as the Body of Christ, has a divine soul, which is the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17; John 14:26). All of this is why St. Paul can call the Church “the pillar and bulwark of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).
Though they are right when they acknowledge that the Church is full of sinful members who fail to live up to the standards to which they are called, God is faithful to use our sinful acts — and even our good but woefully inadequate works — to His greater glory (Genesis 50:20). And He will, at the end of time, offer us His Church “without spot or wrinkle… holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).
Sorry for the long-winded stream of thought. Hope you are having a wonderful day.
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Scripture Citations
Romans 3:23
> “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Matthew 5:48
> “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Luke 5:31–32
> “And Jesus answered them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’”
1 Corinthians 12:12–27 (selected)
> “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ… Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (vv. 12, 27)
Matthew 16:18
> “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 28:20
> “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
John 14:16–17
> “And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth…”
John 14:26
> “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
1 Timothy 3:15
> “…the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.”
Genesis 50:20
> “As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
Ephesians 5:27
> “…that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
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Bibliography
The Holy Bible. Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2006.
St. John Chrysostom (attributed). The Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners. Commonly cited but without a verifiable original source.
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