Todays thoughts
I've been listening and reading about a new fad in Christianity that has become very heart breaking for me personally. It seems there is a growing number of people who don't like what they call the "institution" of the church.
You know what? Church is not perfect and never was. That's why there are so many letters in the bible to churches telling them what they need to change. It's not going to be perfect but that doesn't mean we walk away.
What concerns me about great Christian people who give up on the church experience, is that, in giving up and only gathering with a small group of Christians, they are losing the experience of fellowship with people that have no other place to go. Christians who need loving people around them on that Sunday morning, to help get them through the week. What I LOVE about church is that I am accepted even though I'm not perfect, wealthy, popular or whatever. I LOVE that when my children come to church, they are loved even when they might be a bit annoying. They can be who they are and no one judges them for it. I LOVE that I can say hello to someone who is so shy and see their eyes light up and the next time I see them, they are smiling and feel like I'm a friend. People who have never had many friends or might not have family, can come into our doors and are welcome. They don't have to be invited to a small group of believers based on who they are and who they know. They can come off the street because we are a church and they know it is open to anyone no matter who you are.
When they are old and have no one, they have the church family. When they are poor and have nothing, they have the church family.
Staying home instead of going to church is easy. It's nice to sleep in. It's great to enjoy your day doing what you want to do. It's not what God calls us to do.
The church provides a place for people to pray, worship and celebrate God, say their vows, morn those who have passed away, mentor those who are hurting, and gives those who have no place else to go, a place to feel loved. It gives our children the lesson of loving others, loving God, and taking that time each week to do something for God because he does so much for us.
The church is not about money and programs, it's about reaching people, loving on people, and loving God. You have to have money and programs to do this. You have to have structure and policies and all those annoying things for a church to work. You have to have pastors who are available at all times to minister to the sick, marry people, say words for those who have passed, work up sermons, etc. You have to have volunteers.
Church is not perfect, but please don't give up on it.
You are welcome at my church, and I would LOVE to see you.
I'll get off my soap box now.
You know what? Church is not perfect and never was. That's why there are so many letters in the bible to churches telling them what they need to change. It's not going to be perfect but that doesn't mean we walk away.
What concerns me about great Christian people who give up on the church experience, is that, in giving up and only gathering with a small group of Christians, they are losing the experience of fellowship with people that have no other place to go. Christians who need loving people around them on that Sunday morning, to help get them through the week. What I LOVE about church is that I am accepted even though I'm not perfect, wealthy, popular or whatever. I LOVE that when my children come to church, they are loved even when they might be a bit annoying. They can be who they are and no one judges them for it. I LOVE that I can say hello to someone who is so shy and see their eyes light up and the next time I see them, they are smiling and feel like I'm a friend. People who have never had many friends or might not have family, can come into our doors and are welcome. They don't have to be invited to a small group of believers based on who they are and who they know. They can come off the street because we are a church and they know it is open to anyone no matter who you are.
When they are old and have no one, they have the church family. When they are poor and have nothing, they have the church family.
Staying home instead of going to church is easy. It's nice to sleep in. It's great to enjoy your day doing what you want to do. It's not what God calls us to do.
The church provides a place for people to pray, worship and celebrate God, say their vows, morn those who have passed away, mentor those who are hurting, and gives those who have no place else to go, a place to feel loved. It gives our children the lesson of loving others, loving God, and taking that time each week to do something for God because he does so much for us.
The church is not about money and programs, it's about reaching people, loving on people, and loving God. You have to have money and programs to do this. You have to have structure and policies and all those annoying things for a church to work. You have to have pastors who are available at all times to minister to the sick, marry people, say words for those who have passed, work up sermons, etc. You have to have volunteers.
Church is not perfect, but please don't give up on it.
You are welcome at my church, and I would LOVE to see you.
I'll get off my soap box now.
While I agree 100% with what you say, Shannon, when "the church" becomes a place that doesn't feel sacred or safe anymore, it's not because God is at fault, but because man is. In order to fellowship in the way you describe, one has to feel relatively safe and secure that they are welcomed "just as they are". Even tho' Christians sing about that over and over and over, they don't all really mean it. Certain people are welcome just as they conform to the set of rules laid down by the other Christians who attend the church. Some of us become wounded and leave; heal relatively quickly and move on to another gathering of Christians and start over. Some of us become wounded and leave and are so torn up emotionally and mentally that they can't start over for a long time.....it may take a long time to heal. Then we pray, for those that are hurt and those that do/did the hurting. Linda Wolf
ReplyDeleteThere are always a few bad apples.
ReplyDeleteBut not everyone in the church is like that. It's hard when everyone is labeled because of a handful of cruel people.
I'm not sure there is a church or church like group that is perfect in how they accept people. Because we are human and different.
These small groups only invite people they like, where as a church is, at least, open to the public.
I wish it could be perfect. But it's not going to be. I hope to keep trying.