Are You In The Club?

This past week I changed vehicles with my youngest daughter to help her get some maintenance done. I own a 1992 Mustang and she  owns a 2006 Jeep Wrangler (which she saved and paid for herself...proud dad).  I took her Jeep to get new tires and then drove around to do my normal routine.  As I left the church that afternoon, some guy driving by waved at me. I was pretty sure I didn't know him but I waved politely. Then another woman waved at me. I was certain I didn't know her.  It was like I was in some strange movie.  Then I realized that the people waving to me were also in Jeeps. Aha! I recalled a similar time when I rode a motorcycle. Everyone on a motorcycle waved as you rode by. It was the low wave, where you put your hand out as if to give a low five (opposite of high five). You see, bikers can't be cool and wave, so it's not really a wave.
Anyway, it seems Jeep owners have this private waving club as well.  I looked in the owner's manual and it doesn't tell you anything about such a club or how to join. I also am pretty sure the dealer doesn't tell you about the club either, so it's like a secret club. I began to wonder who started this club and how does everyone that drives a Jeep know that you are supposed to wave?
I have a Mustang and I know there are car clubs for Mustangs where people get together and show off their cars, but there is no waving.  Why don't they wave? What about Nissan Altimas? My middle daughter has one of those and there are many on the road, but no waving. I tried it. We waved at another Altima owner and they drove away quickly with a worried look.
It made me think of the church. We have a club called Christianity.  Do you remember the old song that said "and they'll know we are Christians by our love"? It seems like that song should be re-written today with new lyrics. "And they'll know we are Christians by our judgmental attitude!" Of course that doesn't sound so good, but maybe it's more accurate.
We could take a lesson from Jeep owners. Jeep owners don't care what year you joined the club. If you have owned a Jeep since 1980, you get the same greeting as a 2012 Jeep owner. Actually it seems like the newer Jeep gets more attention. I remember when new Christians got the most attention.  In today's church it seems like the new Christians aren't really in the club until they have completed a few Bible Studies. Or spoken in tongues. Or participated in a Mission overseas, etc. You have to pay your dues! Of course, thats not MY church, but I know it happens.
Jeep owners don't care how old you are, or what color your Jeep is. They don't even care what condition your Jeep is in. (minus 5 points for ending in a preposition) They will wave at you if you are having a bad day, if you ran a red light, if you cut them off....  Well, actually for cutting them off you probably get a "special wave", but that's not the point here.
The truth is, this really is not what the church should be. This kind of club is superficial and requires no relationship, but the church can still learn a lesson here.
When will the church begin the club of waving to and welcoming other Christians? When will people identify Christians by their love again, and not by their judgmental attitudes?  If the church is not a building... if the church is really the people... then we will always have some broken pieces. But we shouldn't let the broken pieces hold up the building, and we don't put the broken parts up front for everyone to see. We can work with them, help them to be like new, and then let God fully restore them.
I say the problem lies with the church (people) removing God from the club He started. We stopped following His rules and began to try and fix things ourselves.  Things he originally made. That needs to stop. We should recognize God as the President of our club.  I bet God does the high-five and the wave.