Behind Stone Walls

Church most of you go to one, whether it is a Sunday service or a Wednesday service or both. Well usually the church service is in a building right? And we sometimes just get into the "motions" of things on church days we often say just another church service. Well to be honest walls don't make up the church, it is the people. We all look at that new person in the back or question why isn't that person worshiping like me? We get caught up in our momentary thoughts about others who enter church wearing those short shorts. But why are we looking at them let alone, thinking about our thoughts in our heads about those people? Because they are our family. Our heaven bound family. We so often get caught up in what we know church looks like or the presence of God is suppose to "feel" like that we forget the definition of love of a Godly love. To love our brothers and sisters as Christ would have. We all go to church to encounter the love of Jesus and love on our church family, we shouldn't go just because someone else goes there, or we feel we have to because that is the right "Christian" thing to do. We should go to learn how to be a family, even when we struggle with sin to know that we can go to church and feel accepted and loved and supported when we are struggling. I mean isn't that what Jesus would have done? He wouldn't reject someone for being honest. I think so often in the church ( I have done this ) we put on a "happy" mask and when the pastor asks does any one need prayer, we feed ourselves that lie oh I am perfectly fine I don't need any prayers at the moment, even though after church you go home get into a fight with your family, go to that familiar website and ect... We think I just come to church to say I know Jesus. But if we are called to be a family with God as our father why don't we show our true colors at church, why don't we have the guts to admit what we are struggling with and seek help? We all have dealt with this lie, I cannot tell because I am ashamed, or how would they know what I am dealing with. I think everyone has dealt with sin and we all have screwed up at some point but God's love is still sufficient and if church is suppose to be the place where we can encounter God's love then why do we hide in our turtle shells of a "religious" mind set. I think if the body of Christ each Sunday said I need help I am struggling with this, truth be told I think we would have more support than ever, if we lay down our high pride picket fences and say, NO this is my sister or brother in Christ and if they are struggling the least I can do is pray for them and help them see the God I have seen in my "struggles". The more we learn to love our family I also think the less people we will see "leave" the church, because they didn't find that satisfaction with the love. Don't we get it the church isn't about the best worship team, or the coolest sound equipment, or even how many people can you cram in the building it is all about love. God is love so if we love then we are showing the people who God is. We weren't called to just sit in a chair and listen and look at our watch and think "hmm I wonder what is for lunch" no we were called to love. Love our heaven bound family, support them and reassurance them when faith gets a little cloudy. To see beyond that "religious" mindset. I know God is doing an incredible work in me lately and this city and to the church. I want to just love people and let the love of God come and touch our hearts. So I am going to challenge you to try something new this week at church, go sit with someone you have never met and get to know them.

God Bless