herlucidlife

I understand the pain folks have experienced in church. Some go to church yet never really allow God into their hearts. Some are like the Pharisees, who were a very legalistic group of people in Jesus’ time. They knew scripture and taught it but were the very people who hated Jesus and denied Him. Some are not going to church to build a relationship with God and other believers. They are there to learn everything they can to be better in their own power, kind of like a self-help class. I’ve always gone to church to hear the Holy Spirit that is within others. I love going to bible study because God speaks to every one of His children in a different way, with a different perspective. Group studying allows the word to be understood and taught in a well-rounded way. If I were to only live based on my understanding of the word, I’d be denying the community God created me for. Daily reading of His word is important for growing our personal relationship with God and the public reading/studying of God’s word creates a relationship with His community. 

I do my best to encourage others to attend church because when done right it is one of the best ways to experience God’s love through others. With that said I do my best to share vulnerably with everyone I encounter. It’s really important for those following or not following God to know that we all struggle, no one is exempt from life on life’s terms. I do my best to be the “church” people need. I’m also reminded that godly community does not co-sign on sins, nor do they allow them to be watered down. God does not leave me in my sins, but He loves me out of them, He disciplines His children like a great Father. His community of people should do the same thing. I’ve noticed that going along with sin is seen as love and calling out sin is seen as hateful. That logic is backwards and worldly. I likewise do not like being told I am wrong and out of order, but it’s in those times I’ve learned the ego is strong and it is broken down when correction is given and accepted. 

The beauty of the godly community is that there is no room for ego. Ego, pride, resentments and individualistic attitude has allowed a lot of folks to turn their back on the church and ultimately on God. God’s community is a reflection of Him and when we act out of turn the world assumes God is like that too. I’m reminded every day that I have to be different so others can see that God is different. I have to allow God’s light to shine through me so others can see God. It’s really hard allowing His light to shine through me because some days I want to have an attitude, I want to be stand-offish, but that’s my will and not God’s. In realizing that reality, I am able to allow God to work through me regardless. No matter how I feel on any given day, there is someone that needs to see God’s light.