Holding the church to a higher standard
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Well, here´s my though: Every church is composed of men and women. Like it´s expected, we are all sinners and yes, there are many broken hearts there, but still, the church is very important. It´s our family in Christ, where you praise Him, hear and receive His Word, where we study His Word, where we renew our faith and strengths, where we offer the Lord the gifts He gave us, where we have pure joy, where we feel sad, where we laugh, where we cry, where you help our brothers and sisters, where you receive comfort and help from our brothers.
Now, in spite of this, we are all sinners, even pastors, and so, it´s natural for each church to have some problems, but still, it´s incredibly important! So, dear sister, do not let allow others to hurt you pointing those type of things. What´s important is how you love your brothers and sisters and how you serve the Lord in your church!
God bless you!
Now, in spite of this, we are all sinners, even pastors, and so, it´s natural for each church to have some problems, but still, it´s incredibly important! So, dear sister, do not let allow others to hurt you pointing those type of things. What´s important is how you love your brothers and sisters and how you serve the Lord in your church!
God bless you!
The part I highlighted in red has NOT been my experience AT ALL. The only place I have seen this done is at my current church. Other than that it's like you're not allowed to be sad because if you're sad you don't have enough faith and something must be wrong with you. If you cry, people get uncomfortable, pat you on the back and run away. Help and comfort?? ppppfffftttt we must be talking about different churches. lol
Do you see what I am getting at?
I understand it is important to focus on serving and loving people but 9 times out of ten people in the church don't allow me to love them because we never talk about anything important. "oh how's the weather?" "Did you like the sermon?" See?
You look at the world and people of the world are so consumed with themselves they can't see past themselves to love others and I am so afraid the church is the same way. :'( All talk but no action.
Do you see what I am getting at?
I understand it is important to focus on serving and loving people but 9 times out of ten people in the church don't allow me to love them because we never talk about anything important. "oh how's the weather?" "Did you like the sermon?" See?
You look at the world and people of the world are so consumed with themselves they can't see past themselves to love others and I am so afraid the church is the same way. :'( All talk but no action.
Well, it seems that in have what I wrote in your current church, so that´s a proof that it really happens.
Church are different from another. From what I know (and I don´t want to make any kind of accusation, please note) and from my experience, the kind of behaviors you complain about are close to the Catholic Church. However, there are so many protestant, evangelical, pentecostal, etc churchs that you may find different behaviors.
Sadly some Churches can be like this. Not everyone who goes to church is saved. We are called to live in the world, but not be of it and to help others. I went to a Christian school, where I was bullied for being a Christian. We are supposed to be set apart from the world. If our fruit is not showing, we are likely not following Christ and the world sees that we are either not really Christian or hypocrites. Sadly I hear hypocrites describes Christians more often than not. I think the Church needs to be revived.
Well, it seems that in have what I wrote in your current church, so that´s a proof that it really happens.
Church are different from another. From what I know (and I don´t want to make any kind of accusation, please note) and from my experience, the kind of behaviors you complain about are close to the Catholic Church. However, there are so many protestant, evangelical, pentecostal, etc churchs that you may find different behaviors.
Church are different from another. From what I know (and I don´t want to make any kind of accusation, please note) and from my experience, the kind of behaviors you complain about are close to the Catholic Church. However, there are so many protestant, evangelical, pentecostal, etc churchs that you may find different behaviors.
Churches are still made up of people. And christian people will have the same flaws as normal people. Getting saved doesn't suddenly make people the most caring or understanding people in the world. You have said before you struggle with social anxiety. There isn't anything inherently wrong by that, but you need to realize a lot of people aren't going to know how to deal with that on an individual level.
Both are true, but you are right that we can't hold one truth higher than the other. If we focus on our brokenness, then a lot of bad things get excused. If we focus on our higher standards, then we try to cover up our brokenness and pretend the bad things don't exist. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to live holy lives, but be transparent and honest in apologizing for our sins and accepting whatever legal or physical consequences may come of it.
Jesus commands believers:
Ro 15:5
7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
KJV
Ro 15:14
14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
KJV
Gal 5:13-14
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
KJV
Eph 4:1-3
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
KJV
Eph 4:32
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
KJV
1 Th 5:9-11
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
KJV
Heb 10:24-25
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
KJV
Gal 6:2
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
KJV
Many of these ministries to one another require a level of intimacy that our society tends to discourage.
Even those of us who are willing to open ourselves to each other find it difficult to spend enough time together to develop real intimacy. (Intimacy is making one's self vulnerable with an expectation of safety; and has nothing inherently connected with sexuality.)
Many Churches would be willing to hold themselves to a higher standard; but have difficulty finding ways to consistently spend intimate time together.
In part it may depend on the size of the church, the larger the church the harder it can be for people to be open and vonurable and share openly about things ie when there sad etc. Sometimes it takes time to develop the depth of relationships where you can be truly say where you are it. I think at times small groups can help. I am fortunate to attend a fellowship where over the last ten years I have developed a real depth in my relationships with my brothers and sisters in Christ. The other issue is when you make yourself vonurable there is a risk of getting hurt and it does happen from time to time but it is well worth it. Certain people I can be totally honest with and even tell them when they have hurt me and acknowledge when I hurt them. I have received prayer and support, had arguments with people, and given others support. When my husband was seriously ill in hospital it was the one place I felt truly safe and could be open and honest. I believe the only reason my husband is still here and his health is stable is down to the congregations prayers.
Finally we can never tell how far someone has come in there faith journey or what they would have been like if they had not come to saving faith. We all still have rough edges which need to be smoothed off
Finally we can never tell how far someone has come in there faith journey or what they would have been like if they had not come to saving faith. We all still have rough edges which need to be smoothed off