“That’s Just Who They Are”

(And Other Ways We Accidentally Deny the Resurrection)-Heritage Happenings!

A Pastoral Note Before We Begin

Before you read another word, hear this clearly:

I’m writing this to myself as much as I’m writing it to anyone in our church.

This isn’t a drive-by sermon aimed at “that person.”
This isn’t me standing above anyone with a clipboard and a whistle.
This is me standing with you—under the same gospel, the same Spirit, the same call to grow.

I want you to hear what I’m saying here, not as accusation, but as invitation.

Because if I can preach grace and forget to practice kindness, I need this.
If I can believe in resurrection power and settle for unchanged habits, I need this.
If I can excuse my tone, my impatience, or my sharpness by saying, “Well, that’s just how I am,” then this is for me first.

Pastors aren’t exempt from transformation.
Long-time believers aren’t finished products.
And none of us are done growing.

So read this slowly.
Read it prayerfully.
Read it with a mirror nearby.

Not to shame.
Not to point fingers.
But to ask one honest question together:

Do we really believe Jesus makes all things new—or just some things?

Now… let’s talk.

“That’s Just Who They Are”

(And Other Ways We Accidentally Deny the Resurrection)

Every church has one.

You know them.
They don’t even need a name—everyone knows exactly who you’re thinking about.

They’re mean-spirited.
A little sharp.
Snarky like it’s a spiritual gift.
Their tone could curdle communion juice.

And whenever someone finally works up the courage to say,
“Hey… have you noticed how harsh they are?”
The church response is immediate and rehearsed:

“Oh well, that’s just who they are.”
“That’s how they’ve always been.”
“They don’t mean anything by it.”

Translation: We’ve decided resurrection has limits.

And as a pastor, I’ll tell you—that phrase doesn’t just excuse bad behavior.
It shrinks the gospel.

When we stop expecting change, we quietly deny resurrection power

If Jesus can walk out of a grave,
He can soften a personality.

If the Holy Spirit can raise the dead,
He can absolutely raise someone’s emotional intelligence.

Scripture says:

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come.”

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Not a slightly improved creation.
Not a “mostly the same but now attends church” creation.
New.

When we say, “That’s just who they are,” what we’re really saying is,
“This is as far as Jesus goes.”

And that’s not humility.
That’s low expectations wrapped in religious politeness.

If the resurrection can’t change your attitude, we’re preaching a very small Jesus.

---

Grace is not permission to stay ugly

Let’s be clear:
Being consistently mean-spirited, harsh, and snarky is not a personality trait.
It’s a character defect.

And listen—I want someone to tell me when I have broccoli in my teeth.
I also want someone to tell me when I have bitterness in my heart.

Because both will cost me relationships.

We’ve somehow convinced ourselves that love means silence.
But biblical love actually sounds like truth—spoken gently, but clearly.

“Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15)

You can’t “grow up” if no one ever tells you what needs to change.

If no one ever lovingly confronts you, that’s not grace—that’s neglect.

---

This is why small churches stay small

Here’s the part we don’t like to say out loud.

Old-timers may shake their heads and say,
“Oh that’s just how they are.”

But a newcomer doesn’t have decades of context.
They have one interaction.

One sarcastic comment.
One dismissive tone.
One sharp look.

And they’re gone.

And worse—they don’t leave thinking,
“That church had one rough personality.”

They leave thinking,
“That’s what Christians are like.”

Who wants to join a community known for being joyless, sharp-edged, and mean-spirited?

Jesus said:

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)

Not by our snark.
Not by our sarcasm.
Not by our “that’s just who I am.”

People aren’t allergic to church—they’re allergic to unkind Christians.

---

We are meant to look like the AFTER picture

You know those brochures—the before and after ones?

The gospel is an after picture faith.

Yes, God meets us as we are.
But He loves us too much to leave us there.

Salvation is free.
Transformation is expected.

And when the church stops expecting growth,
We stop looking like Easter people and start sounding like Friday mourners.

Jesus didn’t die so we could stay exactly the same—just forgiven.

---

A Loving Mirror Moment

So here’s the loving invitation—for all of us.

Look in the mirror.

Not to shame.
Not to condemn.
But to ask an honest, resurrection-shaped question:

“Am I becoming more loving… or just more comfortable?”

Because as believers, we are here to carry the JOY of Jesus.
The LOVE of Jesus.
The KINDNESS of Jesus.

Not the sarcasm of our flesh.
Not the sharpness of our past.
Not the excuse of “that’s just who I am.”

Grace saves you as you are.
Love refuses to leave you that way.

And if we really believe in the resurrection—
Then we should expect resurrection-level change.

Including in us.

The Best Is Yet to Come, inside of us, right?

Rev. John Roberts

HERITAGE CHURCH — THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2026

“7000 DAYS”

Look at that graphic.

An hourglass.
A clock.
Sand falling.
Time moving.
No pause button.
No rewind.

7000 DAYS.

That’s not a number to panic over.
That’s a number to wake up.

Because the new year shows up like a blank page…
and we fill it fast.
With noise.
With deadlines.
With distractions.
With “I’ll get to God when things slow down.”

But the sand is already falling.

So this Sunday, we’re starting 2026 with a message that will grab you by the soul and say:
Stop counting what doesn’t matter. Start counting what counts.

Not a self-help pep talk.
Not a resolution guilt trip.
A realignment.

With the One who created your life.
And holds your time.
And gives you today on purpose.

Bring a friend.
Seriously.
Somebody needs this wake-up more than you do… and you might need it more than you think.

Worship at Heritage Church — Sunday, Jan 4th
9:00 AM — Choir-led Traditional Service
11:00 AM — Contemporary “wake-you-up” Service with the Heritage Praise Band

Don’t miss this.
Because the clock is ticking.
The sand is falling.
And this is the year to live on purpose.

7000 DAYS.
See you Sunday.