There's a black cloud following me around
And I just can't get away
Instead of sinking a little lower
I start making tracks on over
To the place where the sun shines day and night
And I know I'll hear you say
Come on in
Baby take your coat off
Come on in
Baby take a load off
Come on in
Baby shake the blues off
Gonna love that frown away
Come on in
Baby put a smile on
Come on in
Baby tell me what's wrong
Come on in
The blues'll be long gone
Gonna love that hurt away
I've always assumed the Oak Ridge Boys were singing about a bar, but doesn't the description fit exactly the New Testament description of the Church? The church (meaning, of course, the people who meet together under God's auspices) is where we rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep (Rom 12:15). It's where we go for encouragement (Heb 10:24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;) and edification (Rom_14:19 So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.) It should also be where we go when we need a kick in the pants (2Ti_4:2 preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.)
The church is referred to as a family almost 200 times in the New Testament. Where else should we turn when we get "tired and a little lonely" or when "a black cloud is following me around and I just can't get away"? Shouldn't our church family be "where the sun shines day and night"? When we need help and encouragement we should be able to call upon our family and always hear "Come on in". And when members of our family call upon us our only thought should be "gonna love that hurt away." If yours doesn't work that way, maybe you are in the wrong place.
Lucas Ward