Post 8: The Church Is a Service Center—Not a Showroom

See the Church as a center for transformation, not display. Discover how Christ’s yoke heals your soul and empowers you to lift others, drawing closer to Him as the ultimate Healer.

A Place for Healing and Transformation

The Church is not where we display perfection; it is where we come to take upon us the yoke of Christ and be perfected in Him. It is a place of healing, strengthening, and preparation—a place where disciples are shaped to lift others through Christ’s love and power.

True discipleship is not about appearing whole; it is about becoming whole.

From Showroom to Service Center

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf once taught that the Church is more like a service center than a showroom. A showroom exists to display what is polished and impressive. A service center exists to repair what is worn, broken, or misaligned.

Too often, we approach church as if it were a showroom. We hide our struggles, offer polished answers, and present a version of ourselves meant to impress. But in doing so, we misunderstand the purpose of coming unto Christ.

The Church is where Christ repairs souls.

Becoming Whole by Lifting Others

Christ’s ministry was never about perfect appearances. He ministered to the broken, the weary, and the wandering. He healed not from a distance, but through proximity, compassion, and love.

When we embrace the Church as a service center, we stop pretending and start ministering. We come not only to be healed, but to help heal.

C.S. Lewis once observed that if we could see others as God sees them, we would be tempted to fall down and worship them. To emulate Christ is to see people not for who they are now, but for who they are becoming—and to serve them accordingly.

The Yoke That Binds and Heals

The Savior’s invitation remains:

“Take my yoke upon you… and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:29)

A yoke binds two together. When we take Christ’s yoke upon us, we enter into partnership with Him. He heals us—and then empowers us to extend that healing outward.

Conversion is never the end of the journey. As Christ told Peter:

“When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:32)

We are healed so we can heal. We are strengthened so we can strengthen.

How to Lift Others

Christlike service grows naturally when the Church becomes a place of honest discipleship. Consider these principles:

1. See others as Christ sees them
   Pray for eyes to recognize divine worth beyond appearances.
2. Take an active interest in others’ lives
   Listen deeply. Learn their burdens and hopes.
3. Serve with Christlike intent
   Look for ways to lift that are guided by love, not obligation.
4. Point others to Christ—not yourself
   He is the source of healing, peace, and rest.
5. Be humble and transparent
   Sharing your own healing journey invites others to seek His grace.

The Transforming Power of Christlike Service

True discipleship is not about looking whole; it is about becoming whole. As we take on Christ’s yoke, we are changed—and in that change, we become instruments of His grace.

This is the beauty of Christ’s Church as a service center:
as we lift others, we are lifted.
as we heal others, we are healed.

Originally published Sunday, December 1, 2024