Relationship

"ARE YOU TIRED? WORN OUT? BURNED OUT ON RELIGION? COME TO ME. GET AWAY WITH ME AND YOU'LL RECOVER YOUR LIFE. I’ll SHOW YOU HOW TO TAKE A REAL REST. WALK WITH ME AND WORK WITH ME - WATCH HOW I DO IT. LEARN THE UNFORCED RHYTHMS OF GRACE. I WON'T LAY ANYTHING HEAVY OR ILL FILLING ON YOU. KEEP MY COMPANY AND YOU'LL LEARN TO LIVE FREELY AND LIGHTLY." MATTHEW.28.30


It's apparant that there are many people who are tired of Church as it is, or "as usual". I have come to discover that the problem is not in the Church itself - that is the structure of Church - but rather the people that make up the church. It has become acceptable for people to just come and go and let the Pastor tell you what you are supposed to believe.

I don't believe that a true belief is something you know about, but rather it is a conviction that you live your life by. Something that you stand up for, something that becomes who you are. This thing - a belief - should be part of the foundation for which you live your life. So then a belief is not something that you buy into because someone presented it really good once, with a catchy title, and a good story.
Belief in God can't be taught, it must be experianced. It must be lived.

So whats my point - here it is:
Religion sucks, it allows people to become logistical, rules based, rude people, who have nothing better to do than argue about things that don't really matter. The problem as I see it, is there is a sincere lack of relationship with God - our Creator. And I don't mean your prayer time, or Bible reading time - but I mean actually spending Time with God, talking to him, and listening to him, like you do with other people.

God is loving, and people would know that if they really knew Him.
God is compassionate, and people would know that if they really knew Him.
God cares for every person, and every need, and people would know that if they really knew Him.
God doesn't want people sick, and people would know that if they really knew Him.

Sometimes I feel that people get all caught up in the how to's and the what for's that religion provides, and they forget that God is a real person. God hurts when we hurt, and He cries when we cry, and He cares for us in such a deep way. The idea is that we as people can live this to a lost and hurting world of people, who are tired of being candy whitnessed to. When you understand the degree of Gods love towards people, you will understand that its not about making people perfect for God - but its about meeting the needs of people for God. We can't make a difference by offering people logistics about God, but we can make a difference by being an expression of God and His love for people.

Jesus left, but when He did, He left with an expectation that we would follow in His footsteps. This means we are to act as He did. We are here to meet the needs of people, be an expression of Jesus Christ on this earth. This can only be done if you honestly know Him, talk to him, open yourself up to feeling what He feels, see the world through Jesus's eyes. If only more people would project sincerity over the "do it my way or go to hell" stuff many people project.

It comes down to this, we will not make a difference in the Church we don't like, until we choose to do it individually. Individuals make up the Church as a whole. Lets stop playing this blame game of who's fault it is that we don't like the current state of the Church or Christianity, and start taking responsibility for our role in it. I can talk about it all day long, you can talk about it all day long, but WE ARE THE CHURCH! Lets do what it takes, so people don't go to Hell.