I’m off to Omaha, Nebraska in the morning so I’m going to let Nancy do my blog today. On an email list I host, a young man wrote in recently frustrated that the leadership of the congregation he attends aren’t response if to his doubtful or difficult questions about the effectiveness of their program. He’s felt rejected and some have labeled him a heretic for poisoning others in the fellowship with is concerns. He just couldn’t understand why his fellowship couldn’t be a safe place to ask questions and discover truth on this journey.
Most of us have known the frustration of trying to confront the institutional mindset that distract a group of people from living relationally in the life of God. I love the way Nancy answered him:
Thanks for sharing your journey story. Four years ago I shared a similar anguish with Wayne and Lifestream over my journey out of religion. I’m celebrating with you today. Go ahead, grieve for a time. It’s painful. Then get up and follow Christ who is leading you out of religion and into a way of knowing, relating and responding to Him you didn’t learn in the institution.
Don’t bother confronting institutional mind-sets of those in leadership. If you are like me, God is asking you to confront your institutional mind-set and that’s an invitation and entrance to freedom in Him.
There is a lot of free stuff to read and download on the LifeStream site that will help you along the
journey adventure of discovering Life in Him. I personally related to an article entitled “The Nut
Test.”Four years ago I Googled “naked church” and found cyber brothers and sisters who encouraged me as I’m encouraging you; follow Christ—not the institution. For many folks the journey out is not quick, painless or easy. I stumbled and staggered into it myself. God closed a door [religion] that no one could open and opened a door [life in Him] that no one could close. If not, I might still be banging on that door asking leadership to confront THEIR religious mind-sets. Yikes!
Welcome to the adventure!
I love the spirit and content of that. Go ahead and grieve. It is painful when others don’t want to engage the questions. But then pick yourself up and keep following. What God is confronting most often is in us, not in others. No one can restrict the true freedom that is found it Christ. This is an adventure after all, and there are highs and lows as it unfolds.
That’s why Paul and Silas could still rejoice in a prison cell after they had been beaten for their faith. Freedom is a reality within; it’s not getting other people around you to do what you think is best.
I loved this post! Good stuff, freeing stuff. Thanks for addressing this – it helped me, too.
I loved this post! Good stuff, freeing stuff. Thanks for addressing this – it helped me, too.
Just another alternative to think about:
Interesting quote: “That’s why Paul and Silas could still rejoice in a prison cell after they had been beaten for their faith. Freedom is a reality within; it’s not getting other people around you to do what you think is best.”
“That is why I can still rejoice on Sunday at my local church (somewhat of a prison cell) as I hear the gospel faithfully proclaimed, sing songs of praise and worship to my Lord and Savior, and share in communion with other believers (even though I have been beaten by many at that very church). I have the freedom of the reality within; (I go to worship my Lord, not to make friends or have my needs for relationship met) I have the freedom of the reality within; and it’s because I know that I will not get others to do what I think is best.” Aren’t you attempting to do just that–get others to do what you think is best? I am certain that when Paul wrote to the churches and when Christ warned the seven churches, they were local congregations.
The only reason I go to “church” on Sunday is to Worship my Lord and Savior as a day set aside from the other days of the week that I spend time with Him in the Word, prayer and meditation. To find a local church that is faithful to the gospel is a hard task these days, but to hear His Word proclaimed with power, passion and authority from the pulpit lifts me half way to heaven, to sing praises to Him and to partake in communion with other believers on a regular basis brings great joy to my heart because my heart is focused on Him not them – inspite of what anyone else around me might think or feel. That is true Freedom! No expectations from people or institutions. I have my meaningful fellowship with those who God places in my path whether they attend the same local church as I do or not. In fact, if I could go to “church” everyday I would. Private worship and public worship are two different things. It’s about worshipping our Lord – Not about what we get out of it.
Just another alternative to think about.
In Christ and For His Sake
“A Fish out of Water”
Just another alternative to think about:
Interesting quote: “That’s why Paul and Silas could still rejoice in a prison cell after they had been beaten for their faith. Freedom is a reality within; it’s not getting other people around you to do what you think is best.”
“That is why I can still rejoice on Sunday at my local church (somewhat of a prison cell) as I hear the gospel faithfully proclaimed, sing songs of praise and worship to my Lord and Savior, and share in communion with other believers (even though I have been beaten by many at that very church). I have the freedom of the reality within; (I go to worship my Lord, not to make friends or have my needs for relationship met) I have the freedom of the reality within; and it’s because I know that I will not get others to do what I think is best.” Aren’t you attempting to do just that–get others to do what you think is best? I am certain that when Paul wrote to the churches and when Christ warned the seven churches, they were local congregations.
The only reason I go to “church” on Sunday is to Worship my Lord and Savior as a day set aside from the other days of the week that I spend time with Him in the Word, prayer and meditation. To find a local church that is faithful to the gospel is a hard task these days, but to hear His Word proclaimed with power, passion and authority from the pulpit lifts me half way to heaven, to sing praises to Him and to partake in communion with other believers on a regular basis brings great joy to my heart because my heart is focused on Him not them – inspite of what anyone else around me might think or feel. That is true Freedom! No expectations from people or institutions. I have my meaningful fellowship with those who God places in my path whether they attend the same local church as I do or not. In fact, if I could go to “church” everyday I would. Private worship and public worship are two different things. It’s about worshipping our Lord – Not about what we get out of it.
Just another alternative to think about.
In Christ and For His Sake
“A Fish out of Water”