I want to share a verse this morning which I read a few days ago, II Thessalonians 1:3-4.  Paul greets the church with the words:

"We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.  Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring."

As I read those words it dawned on me that Paul looked at churches through a much different lens than we look at churches today.  Today we look at church-appeal, welcoming, worship style, etc.  Paul on the other hand looked deeper into the soul of the congregation.  

The other day my sons-in-law (two of them) left my house for an hour trek to look at a car.  The pictures and the write-up looked good, too good, Before they left the house they reminded themselves is sounded and looked too good to be true.  Sure enough the pictures from just the right angles communicated falsely the true condition of the car.  What appeared from a distance on the outside did not match the mess that was under the hood.  

I wonder to what extent the same holds true for churches today?  Read through Paul's letters to (The churches of the Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians, and to his pastors Timothy and Titus).  Look at what he holds up as good and condemns as bad.  Paul holds up people sold out for Jesus, who walk in the gifting, power and in step of the Spirit of Christ, which is manifested in the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

So through Paul's lens, what does God see when he looks inside of you personally and at your faith community?