Burnt out

[Sirk]

I discovered last night how burnt out I am in the church life. I spent the better part of 12 years volunteering in the worship ministry (sometimes every weekend for a year straight) not to mention countless hours volunteering my expertise in my field while running my own business. I'm tired of the "Christianese"...,the trite little phrases that they say like "you're doing it for God" or my favorite "God never gives you more than you can handle".

Is it any indication that I feel better, I'm a better parent, a better friend, a better more organized worker, my brain is uncluttered and I have more peace in my life than I've ever had. My relationship with Jesus is better and I don't feel guilt and shame anymore. I've dont really remember being on the other side of ministry, where I can just be a person, not having to learn songs every weekend or having worship nightmares where I don't know the songs, or my amp stops working or I'm late or I'm getting yelled at cuz I don't know the songs...or that I have to be something that I'm not because of my "visibility" in the community. I don't have to worry if what I say or do offends some religious nazi.

The "mega" church wore me out. I'm in mega church recovery I guess.

 

[Sirk]

Not to mention the moral failings I've seen over those 12 years...of people who were in "leadership" over me. I think I'm starting to turn into Yet....lol.

 

[Blain]

Sirk I have never worked for a mega church before but I can say nothing you did was in vain.

 

[FreeNChrist]

I discovered last night how burnt out I am in the church life. I spent the better part of 12 years volunteering in the worship ministry (sometimes every weekend for a year straight) not to mention countless hours volunteering my expertise in my field while running my own business. I'm tired of the "Christianese"...,the trite little phrases that they say like "you're doing it for God" or my favorite "God never gives you more than you can handle".

Is it any indication that I feel better, I'm a better parent, a better friend, a better more organized worker, my brain is uncluttered and I have more peace in my life than I've ever had. My relationship with Jesus is better and I don't feel guilt and shame anymore. I've dont really remember being on the other side of ministry, where I can just be a person, not having to learn songs every weekend or having worship nightmares where I don't know the songs, or my amp stops working or I'm late or I'm getting yelled at cuz I don't know the songs...or that I have to be something that I'm not because of my "visibility" in the community. I don't have to worry if what I say or do offends some religious nazi.

The "mega" church wore me out. I'm in mega church recovery I guess.

You're in a good place.


"The Gospel is the call to rest, to receive the free, undeserved gift that God has given us in Christ. There is nothing man can do to earn salvation from his past, or his present acceptance and walk with God. It is, from beginning to end, the grace of God, which can only be received by faith.

The body of truth that proclaims the revelation of God is called the Good News. News, by definition, is the announcement of something that has happened, not a list of things that must be done! All that must be done for a man to live in perfect union with God has been accomplished by Jesus in His death and resurrection.

The heart of the Christian life is to stand in wonder before His love and say, "Thank You!"

The Gospel is not a call to do something, but the announcement that all is done in the One Who stood for all.

The Christian life is not living in our own strength and resources, but from the infinite Christ Who lives within those who believe. All human strength will come to an end sooner or later, leaving each of us with charred, burned out life. But His strength knows no end!

We have one function in life: to be the manifestors of His life to the world. Only when we are living His life are we truly living our own! This is the reason for our creation.

We realize that He is not only the past tense Savior from sin, but also the One Who now lives within us in the present tense, our life and breath. Christianity is not a formula, but the Person of Jesus Himself.

Never think that Christianity is a matter of adjusting behavior, but rather, of letting Christ live through us in His strength and power."

- Malcolm Smith

 

[Dan_473]

I discovered last night how burnt out I am in the church life. I spent the better part of 12 years volunteering in the worship ministry (sometimes every weekend for a year straight) not to mention countless hours volunteering my expertise in my field while running my own business. I'm tired of the "Christianese"...,the trite little phrases that they say like "you're doing it for God" or my favorite "God never gives you more than you can handle".

Is it any indication that I feel better, I'm a better parent, a better friend, a better more organized worker, my brain is uncluttered and I have more peace in my life than I've ever had. My relationship with Jesus is better and I don't feel guilt and shame anymore. I've dont really remember being on the other side of ministry, where I can just be a person, not having to learn songs every weekend or having worship nightmares where I don't know the songs, or my amp stops working or I'm late or I'm getting yelled at cuz I don't know the songs...or that I have to be something that I'm not because of my "visibility" in the community. I don't have to worry if what I say or do offends some religious nazi.

The "mega" church wore me out. I'm in mega church recovery I guess.

a good honest post

thanks for putting it up

 

[Desdichado]

I discovered last night how burnt out I am in the church life. I spent the better part of 12 years volunteering in the worship ministry (sometimes every weekend for a year straight) not to mention countless hours volunteering my expertise in my field while running my own business. I'm tired of the "Christianese"...,the trite little phrases that they say like "you're doing it for God" or my favorite "God never gives you more than you can handle".

Is it any indication that I feel better, I'm a better parent, a better friend, a better more organized worker, my brain is uncluttered and I have more peace in my life than I've ever had. My relationship with Jesus is better and I don't feel guilt and shame anymore. I've dont really remember being on the other side of ministry, where I can just be a person, not having to learn songs every weekend or having worship nightmares where I don't know the songs, or my amp stops working or I'm late or I'm getting yelled at cuz I don't know the songs...or that I have to be something that I'm not because of my "visibility" in the community. I don't have to worry if what I say or do offends some religious nazi.

The "mega" church wore me out. I'm in mega church recovery I guess.

Sirk, you are one of the few things that can draw me out of the News Subforum

That said, I understand your frustration and nodded my head throughout thinking "big church problem, big church problem, big church problem."

I went to one of the biggest Churches in the country for a while and you know what? I still like the Church. I think it's good for the community and good for a lot of the people who go there.

There are aspects of it though that I found frustrating and those seem to be the aspects you find frustrating as well. I would suggest trying out a smaller church if you are up to it. Did wonders for my "burn out."

 

[Sirk]

Sirk, you are one of the few things that can draw me out of the News Subforum

That said, I understand your frustration and nodded my head throughout thinking "big church problem, big church problem, big church problem."

I went to one of the biggest Churches in the country for a while and you know what? I still like the Church. I think it's good for the community and good for a lot of the people who go there.

There are aspects of it though that I found frustrating and those seem to be the aspects you find frustrating as well. I would suggest trying out a smaller church if you are up to it. Did wonders for my "burn out."

I still like the church and many many people there. Including the pastor. They do A LOT of good around here. There is a smaller church that I'm gonna start attending in the fall. About thirty people. I played on their worship team for Easter this year and just loved the whole attitude of the service and the people. Easter was the last time I was in church...somewhat ironically I sorta think.

The biggest problem when you are so invested in a place and you pull back from it is a lot of your social life goes away as well....lol. Much of where I did my fellowship was in a actual green room. Lol

 

[kaylagrl]

I discovered last night how burnt out I am in the church life. I spent the better part of 12 years volunteering in the worship ministry (sometimes every weekend for a year straight) not to mention countless hours volunteering my expertise in my field while running my own business. I'm tired of the "Christianese"...,the trite little phrases that they say like "you're doing it for God" or my favorite "God never gives you more than you can handle".

Is it any indication that I feel better, I'm a better parent, a better friend, a better more organized worker, my brain is uncluttered and I have more peace in my life than I've ever had. My relationship with Jesus is better and I don't feel guilt and shame anymore. I've dont really remember being on the other side of ministry, where I can just be a person, not having to learn songs every weekend or having worship nightmares where I don't know the songs, or my amp stops working or I'm late or I'm getting yelled at cuz I don't know the songs...or that I have to be something that I'm not because of my "visibility" in the community. I don't have to worry if what I say or do offends some religious nazi.

The "mega" church wore me out. I'm in mega church recovery I guess.

I hear ya! I was in it for 20yrs. It's amazing when I think back on all those years of traveling,I don't think I'd have the nerves for it now. But when I quit I felt like I was in a no mans land for a while. I didn't have the energy to go back into any kind of ministry. Of course,being at a home church all the time had people wanting me to join the choir. I ran from that one! Then people tried to guilt me into singing. Finally I had to flat out let them know I wanted to sit in church for once in my life and just LISTEN!

People are still asking me if I miss it,and seem confounded when I say I don't. I talked to a friend that is still on the road traveling. He asked if I was still in ministry and I said "no I slowed down to get married and have a life" He said "a life,what's that?!" lol I have been out of it for about ten years. A few weeks ago I was asked to sing one song in concert, and I was asked from the stage so I couldn't say no. So I did one song and members from my church were visiting and now are asking when I'm going to start singing at our church. People just don't understand. Sometimes you need to have a break. I dealt with the same thing,only I traveled to all different churches. So you can imagine the issues I had to deal with. Someone asked me when I was going to write a book. I shook my head and said "no one would believe the stories I could tell!"

 

[Desdichado]

I still like the church and many many people there. Including the pastor. They do A LOT of good around here. There is a smaller church that I'm gonna start attending in the fall. About thirty people. I played on their worship team for Easter this year and just loved the whole attitude of the service and the people. Easter was the last time I was in church...somewhat ironically I sorta think.

The biggest problem when you are so invested in a place and you pull back from it is a lot of your social life goes away as well....lol. Much of where I did my fellowship was in a actual green room. Lol

That sounds exactly like my situation (minus the praise and worship aspect...ick). I downsized to church of about 30. No matter where I live, I go to churches between 30 and 150 people.

I have absolutely no scriptural backing for my ecclesiological belief here, but I truly believe that small churches encourage a level of care and personal interaction intended by God. You can have those at a mega-church no doubt, they are just way harder to come by and feel less...organic?

I don't know how to put it. I'm a politico not a theologian, Jim.

 

[Willie-T]

We recently (Monday) went back to a church we used to attend, for a funeral. You could fit our entire church, classrooms, and all, in their lobby.

I watched people come in. It seemed almost no one knew anyone else.

Frightening.

 

[Magenta]

Dear Sir brother Sirk, I am glad you have found inner peace and serenity. They are treasures!

I was thinking of you this morning as I was driving to work, listening to the radio broadcast on karri 55 am radio, (they are also online, kari55.com) as they spoke about the treasonous acts of your president, systematically purging the security manuals of the words Islam and jihad as motives for crimes... I am so thankful for my brothers and sisters in Christ who sound the alarm over what is going on in the world around us, under our very noses, as many sleep as though in a dream while the coming nightmare looms ever closer. Tom Wallace teaches on Islam daily. His website is Fortress of Faith – Exposing Islam and rescuing Muslims

From his website archived programs:

Every since Obama came to office we have been telling you that all references to Jihad and Islamic terrorism has been purged from the training manuals in our security agencies. Prior to Obama, our security agencies were able to consider Islam as a motive in their investigations.
I downloaded the 9/11 Report and did the search myself, and you can do the same, and found the following word usage:

• Jihad —- 126 times
• Islamic — 142 times
• Muslim ——138 times

It is clear that Islam had an impact on the motivation for the attack on 9/11. The word jihad is removed all of the procedural manuals for those who are charged with our security. When the hear the word “jihad” they are to look the other way. When the hear the word “Islamic” they cannot consider it in the investigations.

It is clear that these attacks are Islamic, and they will continue to be Islamic until we admit that our problem is Islam. Islam is the ideology and motive behind these terrorist attacks.

Best wishes and God bless you in your new church family!

 

[Desdichado]

We recently (Monday) went back to a church we used to attend, for a funeral. You could fit our entire church, classrooms, and all, in their lobby.

I watched people come in. It seemed almost no one knew anyone else.

Frightening.

Exactly. I visit my old church maybe once every ten months. Each time it seems more and more like a shopping mall/convention center/sports stadium.

The Jesus fans show up. Enjoy the spectacle. Leave.

But hey, at least they're Jesus fans.

 

[Willie-T]

Kris,
You ever tried a Chapman Stick?

www.stick.com - Instruments and Tunings

 

[Desdichado]

Kris, Sirk. Oh my gosh! Why didn't I see this before?

Have I seen it before and just forgot? Hahahaha

 

[AuntieAnt]

I still like the church and many many people there. Including the pastor. They do A LOT of good around here. There is a smaller church that I'm gonna start attending in the fall. About thirty people. I played on their worship team for Easter this year and just loved the whole attitude of the service and the people. Easter was the last time I was in church...somewhat ironically I sorta think.
The biggest problem when you are so invested in a place and you pull back from it is a lot of your social life goes away as well....lol. Much of where I did my fellowship was in a actual green room. Lol

That social life can't compare with intimate fellowship with God and walking in the liberty of real joy & grace. I'm very happy for you, Sirk! \/

 

[Sirk]

Kris,
You ever tried a Chapman Stick?

www.stick.com - Instruments and Tunings

Ive never seen one live and in person. I've seen some amazing "stick" players online....plus I'm still learning to play guitar. Lol

 

[Sirk]

That social life can't compare with intimate fellowship with God and walking in the liberty of real joy & grace. I'm very happy for you, Sirk! \/

I used have this notion that I needed to be surrounded by people and friends. I'm finding I like a very small circle much better.

 

[Willie-T]

I used have this notion that I needed to be surrounded by people and friends. I'm finding I like a very small circle much better.

Give me animals over people, any day.

 

[Rosesrock]

Nice. You described me three years ago. I. Ouldnt gave said it better.
Started a new church and said no to everything service wise. Why? Cause I was serviced out. I sat in a chair up to about 3 months ago and now teach a womans group.
It's good to regroup and be filled.

 

[Rosesrock]

Nice. You described me three years ago. I. Ouldnt gave said it better.
Started a new church and said no to everything service wise. Why? Cause I was serviced out. I sat in a chair up to about 3 months ago and now teach a womans group.
It's good to regroup and be filled.

And yes I know how to spell. I'm on my phone and can't edit. Lol.