Many of you who read my blog know that I am a pastors child. I am a born and bred Southern Baptist, and I married an ordained Southern Baptist pastor. Ive danced that dance all of my life, because-Well, that is what I was suppose to do. For years my relationship with Christ was dependent upon my relationship with the activity of church. In everyone elses eyes, I had my stuff together.
Years into my relationship with Christ, I realized that our relationship was not really a relationship, but instead was geared around my pride. I saw not only the error of my heart, but the complete lack of ministry-true honest ministry- in the lives of those around me.
I walked by people on a daily bases who would never be accepted at my church. I sat next to people who would never grace the building I called “Gods House”. I realized that my entire world revolved around 4 walls, all in the name of Christ, yet Christ would probably have never stepped foot in the place I believed He dwelled. He would be out with the elderly lady who was homeless, or the drunk with the sign that said “Why lie? I want beer”. He would have been with those who needed Him. Honestly and Openly needed Him. I didnt need Him, I after all, was a born and bred Southern Baptist- remember? How could I show them how to have a real open honest need for Christ, when I didnt know how to do it myself?
I started asking myself the hard questions. What was God’s purpose in my life, in my daily christian walk. What role did He play in the church I attended? What happend to the heart of ministry that we, as christians were suppose to be mirroring? Where did my vision of His heart go wrong?
Lets Get honest. A lot of people confuse religion with God and walk away from them both. The point isnt Christianity. The point is being a Christian. It means being a follower of Jesus. Its being connected with everything that is true and good and right. Everything that goes on around us, that reminds us that there is so much more going on around us than we realize. Could there be anything more beautiful?”
There is so much going on around me. There are so many needs, so many hurts, so many lives that just, go on. They dont fit into that perfect little building we call church anymore. Their lives arent meaningful because, Lets get honest- we’d have to work to hard to get them there. We would have to change too much about the country club that we have grown so proud of, that meets our needs.
“God hates it, He cant stand it, when we put on a religious show and then we ignore the poor and the broken and the marginalied and the oppressd.”
He hates it. He hates the act. He hates when we take His only purpose and turn into something so ugly and selfish. Yet we do it, almost ritually, every Sunday.
Sons I have reared and brought up, but they have revolted against Me. An ox knows its owner, and a donkey its master’s manger, but my people do not understand.” -Isaiah 1:2-3
Lord, I want to know, I want to understand. I want my heart to be so evident and transparent for you. I want to love those whom you would love, I want to search for those who are lost and wandering in the wilderness. I want to follow Your purpose, the true Purpose.
Discussion: What does it mean for our hearts to start beating more and more like God’s? How could this change the way the world sees Christianity?
And then the big one:
When it comes to church, what do you think God has in mind?
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It is so hard to be honest with ourselves sometimes. I think it is because once we are, we know we’re going to have to change and do something about it. Your post is right on. God is more into relationships than religion. We miss it so many times. We want to make it about us and what makes us comfortable, when really it is all about Him and His purpose. We all need to get back into perspective every now and then.
Heather, thank you for your honesty!
That’s an interesting point about how when our lives are easy, we don’t “need” God as much and we end up not being good witnesses. I hadn’t really thought about it that way before.
And what an important reminder how God hates the religious act… we need to remember to keep our motives pure and not just follow the steps of religion.
I had started to do this on my own blog and then I lost it, so I will just comment here.
I agree that we’re not as good a witness when our lives are going good, we tend to forget to thank God for the good stuff. I’ve been trying hard to remember to give Thanks everyday, even when the going is good.
I feel like everytime I read here (everyday), I want to say thank you for being so honest with all of us. God is definitely working through faith Lifts and so far I have not forgotten to give thanks for that.
~Laura
I think this is very thought provoking. I know it caused me to search my own heart once again. :0)
I think I may have done the meme wrong. I read the meme page and took it to mean that on Mondays we post something that has to do with the theme for the month. I did that instead of answering your questions. I’m sorry it I did it wrong - I put up my link so that others can see my post on purpose, but if you have to take it down, I understand.
Maybe you want to add something to the meme page that says the topic will be listed on Monday? I know it sometimes takes me a day or two to craft a post, and so by posting the topic on Monday I don’t know that I can respond to it on the same day. Thanks for the great post though - I love having a theme each month!
Great topic! It was a joy for me to participate.
WOW!! Thanks for this post - it is a subject near and dear to my heart as my husband and I have been dealing with this over the past 3 years. God has been forming us and working on us and these are some of the very issues he has dealt with us on!
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I think church should be the brethern coming together. Having Dialouge so we learn through each other, edifying each other, breaking of bread. The way the church was in Acts. It is a shame that that the churches of today are all about numbers and money. It is not about God’s word and the brethern. Some are about man’s doctrine and feeling good, not the truth.
I am working on these thoughts in myself–trying to really embrace that nothing good is of my own doing, and it is ALL (every single bit–100%) Christ working in me.
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