~If you had a chance to make a significant change in the way things have "always been done," would you take it? Would you step out of your comfort zone, truly--honestly forget what people think, understand what it means to have faith, and JUST DO IT.....seriously now, would you?
Since stepping away from the religious system, sitting back and watching has opened my eyes tremendously. It's amazing what I've missed all this time.
I am, and will ALWAYS be, a Christ follower. I want nothing more....NOTHING MORE....than to be His. I want others to be His as well.
This earth is not my home. I am just passing through.
I want to know what it feels like to truly experience the love of the Father, understand 100% the magnitude of the Son's sacrifice, and be filled to the complete brim with the Holy Spirit. I want to be guided, directed, used, and...and...much more.
How I long to someday see my Father's face and sing with the angels.
I am completely sold out to His Will for my life, and I want others to fully experience that for themselves.
After seeing the religious system rise once again---a group of people go right back in to bondage when given a chance to come out--I am saddened. It feels like I'm watching a re-run of the children of Israel. They had to go around the long hard way to get to the Promised Land.
Why is it so hard? Why do we let our flesh win??
John and I had a chance--a choice. We could: A) stay with the "herd" and pretend that we were making changes or that the body of believers we were associated with was actually heading in a new direction, or B) get out while the gettin' was good.
I didn't realize how tied down we truly were. I was bound by anger, unnecessary emotional ties, religious bondage, etc. As painful as it was to rid myself of it all, now I see that it was worth it. We took the step out on the water---we moved in faith, believing that we would conquer new lands for Him and be able to somehow free other Christ followers from a lifetime of bondage to a hierarchy, programs, and rehearsed music/speeches.
That is NOT what Christianity is about, folks. It's not about the big Sunday performances, the sermons, the worship music that "supposedly" ushers in the Holy Spirit to a building.
Why does it always resort to that? Far be it for Him to show up in your home--to hover over you while you sleep--to sing and dance over you 24/7.
Far be it...
To say that I'm frustrated with the falling back in of our "church" of believers into the religious system is a huge understatement. I expected more, yet somehow knew it would not happen. I wanted to be proven wrong--shown that time would, indeed, soften hearts and reshape minds.
Didn't happen. Yet.
2 comments:
As for myself, I to ran from Christ. Even though I called myself a Christian, I too was frustrated with religion. Preachers telling me how to live and how to run my life, but themselves doing the exact opposite. I didn't want to have anything to do with church, I thought everyone that attended where hipcrites. I found myself reading the Bible and trying to live Christs life by myself. I realized though that I am not Christ, and I couldn't do it on my own. Organized religion I still have some problems with but I realized that it is just men trying to do what I tried to do myself. As a Christian you need organized religion to balance out Christ. I too beleive you have to have Christ 24/7. Some people say I talk to myself, but I am really talking to Christ. I like my alone time when it is just me and Christ. But sometimes because I didn't have someone to keep my accountable to Christ, I found myself without him. Not because he had left but because I left. It is a hard life to go at it on your own. Church is what you make of it. If you think it is just a scueduled event than thats what it is. If you think its time wasted out of your life, it is. If you look at the man on the stage as 'God' then you have lost God cause he is just a man. As for myself, I look at church as a place that I can renew my strength by fellowshiping with other people who believe as I do and to hear the word so that I can have a different view than my own. To worship, and praise the Lord without someone calling me a 'crazy' person. For sometimes I get strength from the one that is speaking, sometimes I get it through someone I meet and visit with. And sometime its from a child. I look for Christ in church, at my work, in the middle of the street, and even Wal-mart. Because you have to live Christ everyday. By saying that organized religion is hypocritical than thats what you will get out of it. I myself take it as an extention of my Christian walk, not as my life, for Christ is my life.
Happy Hunting and I hope you and your family find Christ in everything that you do. When you were coming to church, I took great inspiration from you and your playing, and your love for Christ which I saw all over you and your family. By leaving church you denie people the chance to see and hear Christ through your eyes. Church sometimes can feel like a 'trap' that has you weighted down to where you can't get out. Keep searching for Christ daily and remember that He is everywhere YOU take him, even to church.
your brother in Christ, Wally Faux
Thank you, Wally, for your response. Yes, you and I are walking 2 different paths right now, but I still love you with the same love Jesus has for us. You and Michelle are special people--never forget that. One thing to always remember, no matter where/how/why/to what extent you seek the Lord: He wants to speak to you ALL of the time. He wants your heart to be His.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Love you both! Melissa
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