Obviously it's been some time since my last post. Since that post I have spent time in Pigeon Forge with the Delores Sisterhood; graduated both my daughters from college; attended two basket making seminars; attended leadership training at Precept Ministries, International; moved Erica to Texas and moved Courtney to Bullit County (Louisville) Kentucky.
In the midst of this I have found myself floundering in "limbo" trying to discern where God is calling me. You see, I'm not comfortable at my church any more. And before you comment, yes, I know, I shouldn't feel comfortable if I'm being challenged in my spiritual life. But therein lies the rub. I am not being challenged nor am I being "fed" God's word without it being reduced to a soft sell, touchy feely version of the gospel. Something I call "Bible lite."
I crave to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ be proclaimed from the pulpit in all it's glory. To hear what's hard to hear for people in today's society. To hear the truth and not what just makes people feel good. Jesus never told us that following Him would make us feel good. On the contrary, He told us we would be challenged and hated. I want to hear the love story of God and His people. To learn from Israel, her disobedience, her judgement and then to hear of their hope for restoration.
People today need to believe God. Not just believe "in" God but believe His Word. I don't understand how people (Christians) claim to know God and yet pick and choose which parts of His perfect Word they're going to believe and what parts they're going to call "just stories." In my mind you either believe God or you don't. Now let's not get silly and bring up things like "wearing clothes made of two different fabric" or the "symbolism" of Revelation. Read the Bible with some sense. Follow the rules of grammar and recognize the type of literature in the passages you're studying. Also, recognize who is being addressed. Let scripture interpret scripture. Take the Bible at face value. God did not inspire a book that the average man (or woman) could not understand. He wants us to know Him.
So, why do preachers (some of them) insist on "dumbing down" the gospel. I don't think Jesus, Peter, Paul or any other Biblical author used the soft sell approach to reach people. Sometimes I just want to scream, "WAKE UP PEOPLE!"
Which brings me back to limbo. To me a intricate part of worship is hearing the Word proclaimed. So do I stay at a church where I have a large "family" of friends but can't seem to worship because of the ministers style of preaching or do I search for a new church that values the same worship/preaching style that I do? Do I stay at a church whose denomination is one step away from apostasy with some of their views on major topics in today's society or do I go to a church who values the truth of God's Word and stands by them in spite of society's views? Do I stay at a church and fight to proclaim the un-watered down Gospel and feel like a spinning tire on an ice slick or do I go to a church where I can be challenged in my faith and learn to proclaim the Gospel in my everyday life by the way I live? Do stay at my church and try to suppliment my worship experience with other experiences or do I go to a church which builds my worship and my faith? You see, limbo! I'm lost as far as direction goes. I love the people at my church and I'm sure that no matter where God leads me, as far as church is concerned, I will always have these people as brothers and sisters in Christ. But it's so hard! I don't know what to do and I'm having a hard time discerning God's will for me in this matter.
So, please, pray for me.
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3 comments:
Wow! Beautifully written. You know my answers to your questions, but that's just it, they are MY answers. I know your heart and do know your pain. I've chosen one path to deal with it, no you must choose yours. Reading the way you've put it and illustrated it, I have no doubt that there most ccertainly is no wrong answer. I wouldn't say that for everybody that ask many of the same questions as you. But, you do understand all the facets of the questions and the matters at the heart of all of it, which puts you so far ahead of the game.
Love ya bunches!!!
The Cantakerous One
HUWHOA.. . .yeah, what he said. I'm so with you as far as what I'm NOT getting at church but for me, where I am right now, the relationships I am building with the people at the church are enriching my life so much and the lack of spiritual food is FORCING me to do independent study (which I've never been able to do very well before). We're Methodists. At some point in the future we'll get a new pastor at Our-Church-Which-Shall-Remain-Nameless (I'm lobbying for a certain guy who preaches in Maysville at the moment but he seems to thing he's too inexperienced. . . whatever). In the meantime, I love you wherever you are and we always have Thursday mornings at Starbucks!!
Now, Marty - be Nice!
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