I was FB chatting with a friend this morning about my experience when I went to a Sunday night service at my mother's IB church recently.
THAT season of my life is over. That is, for me, I no longer see that as something I would ever see as an obligation or even having any value - again, FOR ME. It has been honed to a sleek "service" that you could predict at almost any church in the country.
And I wonder, how much true Life is there? Oh,there are a lot of smiles and good music, but is there really anything under the surface? I asked this exact question recently to someone who still goes there - if he were to openly question a deeply held Baptist distinctive, how long does he think it would take for people to start to pull away from him?
I think he would be shocked how shallow and conditional those relationships really are - I've seen it for myself. Start asking HONEST questions, and people become really uncomfortable, and people don't LIKE discomfort, so they just avoid it...and you.
Like I've said before, I couldn't have begun this journey if I had remained at my church. I am thankful for God's leading in my life.
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2 comments:
But, you might not have realized you were missing something if you had not gone to the other church.
Hmmmm...but something was missing BEFORE I even went to the other church. And while I LOVE the people God has put in my life (family, secular friends [that is, people met OUTSIDE of a "religious" setting], and "church" friends), I do not associate myself with the institutional church itself.
I consider everyone (see list above) as my "church". I'm just trying to love those God puts in front of me - on a daily basis.
I don't always succeed, but I believe that is what is meant by Body life.
My main point was, that THAT part of my life (regular Church attendance) is over. I may still go from time to time, but I (ME) don't see it as a God-given duty. I just want to be around other believers so we can talk about our walk and edify each other.
:-)
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