The last year has been a hard one for me. There has been a feeling of betrayal, confusion and pain. Through it I have struggled in my 'walk with God.'
Recently, I've been thinking...
If you walk away from church, does that mean you're walking away from God? Now, I know that some folks will resoundingly say 'YES!' from the top of their lungs.
But, what if the 'church' walked away from you first?
Does that change anything? What if, a group of people you've loved, worshiped with, and committed to just decided that you weren't what they wanted anymore and cut their ties? Of course, it would be in a loving, sweet worded manner. There would be lots of proper things said, but the message was still clear enough, you're not accepted as you are.
Then what?
2 comments:
Wow. What a heavy burden to bare. I don't know the specifics, but hearing your story makes me hurt for you guys and wish you were still nearby.
I have been having similar feelings lately of wanting to walk away from where we are. There hasn't been a conflict as much as I have recognized that it's a strained fit. Regardless, it's not God who I would walk away from as much as the church and relationships we currently have.
I firmly believe the church is supposed to be a support group for the believer. If they aren't supportive, they aren't the church. Find the church elsewhere--wherever you find believers who know how to love one another, you've found church.
You are in my prayers.
Very transparent love.
You know how I feel on the matter. Church, as a human organization, has a system. If you do not fit that system, you do not belong in that "church." If you want to believe in God, then I think you have to find other "churches" who have a system which can accept you for who you are. Or, at the very least, one where you are willing to accept the system and can insert yourself into it without compromising your own ethic.
For me, belief in God and acceptence from a group of Christians are not equal to one another, nor are they mutually exclusive. But when people eject you from their system, it is either you who must change or you need to change systems. Either way we must grieve what is lost, and hope for what is to come.
No matter, I am here, journeying with you. Partnered together.
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