A Scary Confession

I cringe at the thought of church. That’s a scary confession for me to make. Scary because of what some of you might think of me even though I was honest enough to admit it. Many of these feelings are new to me. I just started unreservedly evaluating “church” in the last two years or so.

I have always found myself smack dab in the middle of a church that boasts of its unique friendliness, but I am felling far less than friendly towards church lately . . . and it hurts. The problem is that most any church I attend would in all likelihood fall short of my standard.

In reality a good portion of the things that set me off are things that I need to get over. However there is an even larger portion of things that can’t or more accurately shouldn’t be overlooked any longer.

This isn’t a tangent to devalue or even affirm your perspective of your church or church in general but to share my own. Not that I’m uninterested in your perspective but that this for me isn’t a soap box or a manner to persuade.

Another Angle

Let me give you some hope. Hope in me and hope in the church.

I am learning that church is Christ’s body and Christ’s body is his followers. In that sense of the word I am falling more deeply in love than ever with the church.

Special relationships are flourishing because of the common core we share which is Christ. We have begun to dream together about how we can take part in God’s kingdom. We spend time talking, laughing, eating, playing and praying.

I am learning that this too is church . . . and it feels great.

The Root of My Problem

To no one’s surprise I blame Satan. Is this a copout to you? Not to me. I think Satan expends a lot of energy trying to distort, dilute, and destroy the church.

He does so by challenging the good in us and highlighting the bad. We have let him get away with it to easily.

How I Can Fight Back

Dry it up! Quit my belly aching and be joyful, constructive, and optimistic.

Pray! Pray for the unity of believers that we might see the good in each other and strive for our full potential.

Get Out of the Rut! Pry off the shackles of traditions and paganism and live more fully. We've gotten lazy, uncreative, and boring. It’s time for this “body” to get in better shape. Get out of the Lazy Boy and go for a jog. Heck, even a road trip! Live a little!