It’s been an interesting learning curve this year, getting involved with a Sporting Club for the first time. I’ve seen people passionate about their “club” and never really fully understood it.
There is a strong sense of belonging within a sporting club as well as a sense of loyalty. Things may go wrong from time to time and conflicts arise but at the end of the day it’s almost like “blood is thicker than water”, the bonds can be so strong.
I think what really saddens me is that we often miss this strong bond within our own churches. The feeling of acceptance and belonging. Is it any wonder that people come from other organizations into the church and wonder what has gone wrong?
Of anywhere in the world, the church should feel like a haven. A place where people FEEL they belong. A place where blood truly IS thicker than water.
The only excuse I can offer on the churches behalf is that we do have an enemy constantly undermining whatever we try to do. Always working hard to make God look bad in the hope that he can drag people down with him as he goes.
We attend a church which is wonderfully warm and inviting although it still has it’s own struggles. But I know that we could still work on building that sense of belonging and being more inviting to newcomers.
It’s given me some interesting food for thought.
We were just talking about this Sunday. How we seem to get hurt more in church than out in the world. We concluded that we do tend to expect more of each other in our church family than we do of others. God, give us grace I pray, to see and forgive each other’s weaknesses.
By: Karin on September 16, 2008
at 11:50 pm
I think people get hurt in church because that is where they least expect it to happen. And, speaking for myself I sometimes feel I don’t belong there, because I don’t deserve to be there.
By: Sharon on September 17, 2008
at 12:14 pm
I fully agree! Until we become vulnerable ourselves, how can we expect others to be the same and share their real selves and lives with us? Do we go to church to make friends or to worship our King? I often have the same thoughts as you have all shared and find my special deep times only happen when I want them too and ofter not at church but when I call on someone or have them over. Something awesome happens when Chrisitans share a meal or coffee…… we relax and share life…. do you get the same results over a meal?
Sometimes we dont appreciate what we have until we leave and can look back…
By: Lynette on September 17, 2008
at 10:57 pm
Great post! And so true – unfortunately! I agree that the enemy is definitely at work trying to undermine and at the same time I feel that we, Christians, should be aware of that and actively “fighting” against it.
Despite challenges and hurt, I have continued to “press” forward in the different churches we’ve attended (God has moved us around a great deal – haven’t lived in the same house for more than 3 years). I’m there because of who God is and my faithfulness to Him rather than because of the people that are attending the church (though there are those we really love within our church). I hope I’m making sense.
To be honest, my life is much more peaceful when I’m not going to church. I enjoy my time with the Lord more (and am more faithful in spending quiet time with Him when I’m not attending church regularly). I feel more ‘agitated’ when I am attending church ~ I think it has to do with my frustrations with the church (each church has them) and the way people treat each other. Our church has it’s “social groups” and the college crowd, etc ~ though there are people that we try to connect with each Sunday morning (but it’s only for a minute or two – does that even count as fellowship?).
Over the years, our experience has shown us that people outside the church have been more caring than those in the church. Our oldest son works for a natural food store and has some great friends (and they are surprised how “cool” he is, because he is a Christian). Our daughter works at an upscale retail store and everyone there loves her and she loves them (and again, they are surprised that she is a Christian – because she’s so nice and non-judgemental – one young woman who declares herself an atheist actually wants to meet our family and is considering visiting our church with our daughter – wow!) Yet, our children have very few friends from our church. And, I always get a little nervous to take people to church with us because of what “their experience” might be – will people be pleasant or just ignore us… Why does it have to be this way?
And Sharon, none of us were worthy ~ yet we’re all redeemed through the blood of Jesus Christ and now are called sons and daughters. Each of us are clothed in righteousness and that’s how our Heavenly Father sees us. Embrace it and don’t believe the enemy’s lies…
Lynette ~ we have always been vulnerable and quite open about our faith and life (challenges and shortcomings) and find that Christians don’t want to hear about our “issues” nor share theirs. When people meet us, share openly with us and realize we are different from the norm ~ we’re often told they didn’t realize there are people like us in the church… It breaks my heart, though we have been encouraged in finding a handful of others over the years. My spiritual father, Ray, (from New Zealand) told me years ago (when God brought him to Seattle, because I couldn’t find anyone around me to teach me and help me along my faith path – isn’t God amazing?!) that it’s a narrow gate to God’s path and not many are willing to truly follow that way… Keep praying and believing! I’m so thankful for each of you and your willingness to be open and vulnerable in these discussions.
By: Joanie on September 24, 2008
at 4:04 am