To envision the fulfillment of a SafeChurch™ we must first visualize the ‘endgame’: when a church has fully inculcated a scriptural morality as a core of their ‘new DNA’, including the full nuclear family. 

THE VISION:

Truth in Love, Hope in Grace – The Local Church Certified SAFE! 

2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (Referring to the sin of immorality in the Corinthian church that Paul confronted in 1 Corinthians 5) says: 

10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 

THE MISSION:

Equipping the local church to become a safe haven that PROACTIVELY CHAMPIONS the sanctity of the human body and life and REDEMPTIVELY HEALS those wounded by sexual sin or abortion. 

SafeChurch™ Definition: A church community with a reputation for boldness and compassion, demonstrating hope through the grace of God, both proactively and redemptively by:  

• Speaking the truth in love about the sanctity of the human body and life – God’s design. 

• Loving our neighbors in practical ways – accept them as they are, empower them in successful living and godly relationships, and provide a safe space to be real and heal. 

“At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.”

THIS IS THE END GAME, along with the rest of verses 10 and 11. When this is accomplished, what will it look like in the big picture? 

Here are some thoughts I put together in our discussions about worldly sorrow vs godly sorrow: 

1. Earnestness: Full seriousness, as of intention or purpose* to live and teach according to God’s design – the sanctity of the human body and the sanctity of human life. 
2. Eagerness: to clear ourselves: We will no longer be guilty of perpetuating sin against our own bodies or those of others.
3. Indignation: Strong displeasure at what displeases God, what is unjust, offensive, insulting, or base; righteous anger*. 
4. Alarm:  A sudden fear or distressing suspense caused by an awareness of danger*; we finally see the damage of sexual sin and abortion, such that we can no longer be silent about them. 
5. Longing:  To please Christ in His design; for all to know the truth, to heal from the shame, trauma, and loss of sexual sin and abortion, and to make these sins unthinkable for everyone. 
6. Concern:  For all who have been wounded by sexual sin or abortion, and those who will be wounded if we don’t speak the truth to them with willingness to support and disciple them. 
7. Readiness to see justice done: First in the church, then in the world: Because now we can speak with authenticity. 
8. Proven Innocent in these matters: Because we have fulfilled God’s role of the watchman in Ezekiel 3 and 33, warning of the danger so there is no more blood on our hands. 

THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE IN YOUR CONGREGATION WHEN YOUR CONGREGATION IS A CERTIFIED SafeChurch™.