People say that their "church name" is a perfect place!
But the truth is church is a place where imperfect people fall short of the glory of God and in need of Jesus' blood! A church is a place where people are trying to live lives of worship.
Therefore, we may forget the real reason why we're going to church. The real reason is JESUS. People in the church will disappoint you. The atmosphere of the building; classes; worship may not be what you expect. You may think a Christian should give the best example of Jesus but later encountered that they failed to show Jesus. Someone may unintentionally insult you. There may be "big heads" in the church that turns you off.
Yet, it is still a place where people are trying to live lives of worship. They may be struggling with their egos, arrogance, pride, hypocrisy, lust, anger, bitterness and thousands of other sins.
Have you been in a hospital? Is it a place for the healthy? No surgery is taking place. No nurses making their rounds. No doctors studying x-rays. No ambulances running their sirens. No paging doctors to report to ER room #7. No i.v. drips. No vials to be filled. No groans. No death rattles.
If you're looking for a perfect church, you won't find that anywhere. There will be people struggling and hurting and in dire need of Jesus as their Savior!
11 comments:
One thing that is sad is that many people tend to look more into the characteristics of church members that they knew or "heard" about and dwell on them. You really hit the nail right on its head when you said that no church is perfect, and that we should gather for God's glory and not judge others.
I know that EVERY Christian, struggles with worldly burdens and habits. Being, worshipping, praying, doing bible studies in a church atmosphere, is unfortunately not what we do every day. Back in Jesus' time, people gathered and worshipped EVERY DAY. Nowadays, people have so many worldly obligations to deal with, thus lacking time to worship God, pray, read the bible, etc. Let's not let the devil boast too much on these worldly burdens.
I am struggling, too...so that's why I'm so glad to be living in Lubbock, Texas and away from DC area where/when I had to work 2-3, sometimes 4 jobs daily to keep up with the living expenses. Here in Texas, I am UNEMPLOYED and I look more forward to going to church here because I have nothing else to do. Smile. I worry a little about how my husband Fred and I can make ends meet but God will provide! JUST PRAY and read the bible every day.
Monica Shimmin-Orr
Monica, my dear sis in Christ!!
You sound like a preacher's wife already!! Have you started school already!!? Haha.. I know it isn't until the first week of August but I love the second paragraph you typed! Very true!! However, we must overcome with the strength God provides.
No! You're not unemployed! ;) You are now God's employee and He has increased your treasures in Heaven!
Amen?
Amen to Mark's point that we are indeed God's employee and increased treaasures stored upstairs!!! AMEN!!!!
Hahaha Mark ... yes ... AMEN that I am God's employee. I'm glad that God doesn't do performance evaluations, but I bet he gives "pay" raises (aka blessings) regardless! :) When we confess our sins and repent for them, we get more blessings.
We can never be perfect and we will always stumble but if in our hearts we try our best to improve and fix our wrongdoings, God is happy. The others who judge us, well .. let God deal with them. We need to just get together as much as we can and fellowship.
Back to my SIBI application. :) Need to FINISH it!
Monica
Mark and everyone,
That's good to hear about that. Just BE SURE REMIND OF EVERYONE ON EARTH, just simple keep your mind BE OPEN completely -- whether if the action or the thought could be coming into the direction be Christ-ly or Earth-ly -- NO MATTER what ... the people in church HAS to be STRAIGHT-FORWARDLY as "stay-as-neutral" status if facing toward the minister, church member, outsider, and ANYBODY ELSE in a bar, in a bookstore, in a school, in a crazy place, etc. Just look at them like "look like natural" just relax and enjoy everyday.
I am talking about THAT COMMENTOR who discussed with Mark on video in which he-she cares too much about hypocrites or sinners or WHATEVER -- it obviously he-she WANT the church to show "perfect example" (in fact, its no such thing and in fact its NOTHING there at all) -- he-she worry too much about "being label" to look at church people. WHO CARES !!!! Just go mingle there. Don't be afraid -- its obvious that THAT PERSON is getting into FEAR FEAR FEAR. The word Fear is Satan's best friend. Just go there as you wish as you feel yourself individually to be with God. Its not matter if a person look like "crooked" or "pure nerd" -- not matter. SMILES AND CHEERS.
Look, anyone on Earth, don't worry about "looking yourself in mirror" as saying what he-she feel itself inside as he-she feel something wrong AS imagine AS all other people LOOK at him-her. NOOOOO !!!! That's ABSURD.
Maybe next time, I can come into church with all Hippy and look ugly -- why not ??? CANNOT JUDGE no matter what.
FEEL FREE, MARK -- in PEACE with God as He will bring Happiness always with His Almightly Spirit.
Mark, I hope my comment can bring very clear explanation ?????? I sure hope so. That's why I am getting tired of people WHO try to "look tooooo perfect" -- they will fall apart much worse than Non-Saved Person -- Mark, imagine that WOW -- no excuse.
One more thing !!!!!
WOW -- isn't that kidding about Monica and her newly hubby already moved west to Lubbuck, TX where SIBI is located there. Is that correct that he or she or both is going enrolled into SIBI. Kidding ??? Very well accepted and respected in all due aspects of that nice couple, of course. They go there where Mark had enrolled there before, huh ?? I would be very happy as if they decide exactly as they want as setting into their goals. Congrats. Isn't that SIBI the ONLY place all church of christ has to go through there before being whatever be successful as next career ??
For Monica and Hubby, OH BOY !!!! I dear love the WEST ... there must be things to do out there, as long as you have to drive MUCH FARTHER to reach many good places, but good heck with no traffic. I would trade favoring for Lubbuck than Wash DC in any cost !!! Good luck, Monica and Hubby in searching for God's guide to whatever you wanna become into next career.
Hebrews 12:1-12
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shredding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.
Endure hardiship is DISCIPLINE; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined
(and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate chldren and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live. Our father disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed."
More readings for us..
Hebrews 12:14-15
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy, without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
GOD's LOVE
GOD is HOLY
GOD is PURE
NO LUKEWARM
Of course, I am one of the saints who has been disciplined by God. In some areas, I do not give good examples, but in other areas, I do well with God's help. He helped me overcome some areas so God is REAL.
Hebrews 4:7
"Submit yourselves, then to God, Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
We all are encouraged to perserve to repent, to remain humble, and do for the Lord. God is full of compassion and mercy.
Again, be there for anyone and remain non-judgemental. Just be sure that we don't wrath God's love and glory. He wants more more people to love him and do what he teaches. Be nice to everyone, of course. Mr. Nice always say on every blog as I agree with him.
ccm14er,
Thanks for the kind words. Smile.
I'll pass them on to God. He has blessed us every day ...
My husband Fred Orr is committing himself as a full time student at SIBI for up to 3 years here. Speedy Hart sent me an email encouraging me to apply just in case I decide to attend SIBI with Fred. I have been strongly encouraged by SIBI teachers Bob Anderson and Hollis Maynard to attend full time. I will aim to do so as long as my SSDI and my husband's SS incomes can support our living expenses. If not, I'll need to find ways to earn some extra money by working part time (evenings and weekends). So pls pray that I, as Fred's wife and God's servant, will be able to afford to attend SIBI *FULL TIME* with Fred.
As for driving around Lubbock, believe it or not, EVERYTHING we have to go to (food stores, bank, gas ... NOT to mention Starbucks but there are a few here) are 3 miles or less from our apartment! When we lived in Va, we had to drive around SO MANY miles to get to work, and the stores we often shopped at for food and needed items. We had to fill up our gas tanks nearly every week. Here we fill up our gas tanks every 2 weeks or longer. Lubbock is really growing and there are many new highways and roads being built.
SIBI is a little over 3 miles from here. So we will save a LOT more gas while living in Lubbock. Many people we know live very close by, and the Baells will be living right next door to our apartment soon.
Lubbock is a place where Fred and I can learn a lot more about God by fellowshipping and worshipping with others. And like you all, we also have to remain humble and not boast that we are better than them.
Alright I shall stop here. :)
Monica
Dear Mark,
I have a question unrelated to what you're talking about. It's about the matter of women. 1 Peter 3:7a says "Husbands, in a similar way, live with your wives with understanding since they are weaker than you are." Now, what does that mean? Women can just be as strong as men.
B.M
B.M.
Let me bring 1 Peter 3:7a into a new blog. This is entiredly a different subject... :)
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