Lent - when the church gets between God and people

Some of the discussion over the last few weeks (particularly for the last post) has touched on the notion of the Church as a barrier between people and God. I remember, years ago, John Barrowman saying that very thing, and I've noticed it more and more.

Youngsters won't want to go to church services if they're 'boring' and I can't blame them. I can get desperately bored at church events and I've got a vested interest.

People won't want to hear about a loving God if they see his 'followers' promoting hate, abusing their positions, defrauding their congregations, smuggling drugs into prisons, etc.