who have we become

so i'm reading this book: "under the overpass" by Mike Yankoski and he has a short section that reads as follows (page 114-115)

CHURCH LOCKDOWN

Early on a friday evening, just after the sun had set, Sam and I were walking from the library back down to the Portland waterfront where we had decided the friday night crowd would offer a prime panhandling opportunity. we didn't say much as we walked until we passed a church. "oh my gosh!" i exclaimed, stopping. "You've got to be kidding me." "what?" said Sam. then he saw what i was looking at. "Oh," he murmured.

A large gray church rose up behind a a wrought iron fence in front of us. the building was old and weathered. above the mahogany double doors hung a sign in red letters: "no trespassing. church business only." a new chain and two huge padlocks secured the gate at the sidewalk. "it would take bolt cutters and a battering ram to get into that church," i said, suddenly angry. "'Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden'? yeah, and what, die on my front steps?"

we turned to keep walking toward the waterfront. sure, a church needs to protect it's property, but what we had just seen seemed excessive, and sent a negative, uncaring message.

sam was having the same thoughts. "Let's say your life is falling apart and you need help. would you go there?" "nope," i said, "anywhere but there. but the world is the church's business -- and that's exactly who they're shutting out!"

"correct me if i'm wrong," said sam, "but aren't the people in a sanctuary a whole lot more important than the sanctuary itself?"

we walked past a market that sold pop, beer, wine, cigarettes, pornography. the doors wedged open. ragged people came and went.

it was one of the places that never close.

what a powerful section... it stopped me in my tracks. what is my church like? is it the place that welcomes the poor the broken the hurting with open arms and widespread love? how about my own life... am i a person marked by the generosity of the gospel or do i live my life in such a way that those who hurt would rather turn to something that they know will add to their pain rather than turning to christ who can heal them if only i weren't setting such a staggeringly distasteful example.

if you're a follower of jesus christ is your life marked by generosity... ?