What would it look like?

Before we moved to Oakville in August we did what everyone does when they are scoping out a new place to live: we asked others what they knew about the area. 

Now, if you ask very many people about Oakville and what it is like you will get a flood of the same answers. For the most part, what we heard were things like, "rich," "snooty," "very nice," "hoy-tee toy-tee" (is that really how you would spell that?), "great soccer leagues," "great schools," "expensive," - the list goes on and on. 

Then we talked to a friend who works in the mental health profession. While he affirmed all of the previous statements, he added on that took me a bit by surprise. Anyone care to guess what it is?

My friend told me that more than anything the thing he has to deal with most is the simple fact that the people of Oakville are engaged in more sexual addiction, pornography and marital affairs than any other community he knew about. In fact, he called it the "epidemic" of Oakville. And, while that might sound surprising, I mentioned that bit of info at a meeting I was at the other day and literally was (playfully) "shushed" by someone else at the meeting with a covert, "we don't talk about that."

Now, fact is I have no idea if this is true or not. But, here's what I do know: I have never seen a church do intentional, missional work around the breakdown of marriages. Sure there are Alpha's to help people pick up the pieces. There are ALANON and other such groups to help people deal with the relational mess that often accompanies this sort of thing. 

But, what if a church decided to open it's doors, in some deliberate way, to people who are tempted and/or engaged in full blown marital affairs, porn or other sexual addictions?

I know we could be "missional" with regard to the homeless, the disadvantaged or some other unique group - and I for one think we should at the church I am a part of. But I can't help but think that the individuals engaged in this form of brokeness are in just as much need of help as a hungry person is. 

Sure, there are going to be challenges including: privacy issues, shame, collateral damage, image issues, secrecy barriers. But what if we could stave off this sort of brokeness? What if we could be a healing presence instead of relegating this form of brokeness to the divorce courts? 

What would it look like for a church to tackle this sort of thing in really intentional way?