I've not believed in the church for a long time actually. How could I? As a Protestant I've seen the billions of factions of churches, splitting over things like whether we should clap in church or put a table cloth over the communion (Eucharist for those who don't know).
I lost faith in the church a long time ago.
When I think of "Church" I simply think of the millions of Christians everywhere in the world, connected simply by our love of Christ and our struggles to be like him.
Even the Catholic church looks like a big denomination sometimes. The Twelve Tribes though, (those christian hippies next door) seem to question my salvation because
1. I have not given up all earthly materials to follow him
2. I am not a part of their "true church"
True, I have not given up all earthly materials to follow him, but I looking for a way to. That's why I visit them in the first place, why I want to visit The Simple Way in Philadelphia. I do not think I can be accused of not trying.
About number 2, I know what happened to me when I was eight years old. I don't mean to sound proud but I know that God is with me. He's never given me any reason to doubt that.
I'm not saying that I am always with him, that I am always perfect. I am human after all, but I've seen the stepping stones He's put at my feet, felt him in my heart. I know that he is what directs the purposes of my life. If he told me to go to leave this country and go I would cry for joy as I packed, that he would send me of all people.
And about the church? So many people have asked God to show them it, and I am not so proud as to assume that he'll whisper the secret only to me. For now at least I reach out to my brothers standing at arms length.
Therefore since we are surrounded my such a great cloud of witness I will reach out for the brothers nearest to me and trace the tangled paths on interlocked hands and fingers, hoping that blind as I am I will find the center.
And yet, though I cannot see the forest for the trees, I can see the sap running through each limb and trunk, a fountain of life to connect us all, a Holy Spirit to take us from these fleshly shackles and bring us to the author and perfecter of our faith so that we may finally fix our eyes on Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1-3
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that 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 sat 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.
God give me heart!
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6 comments:
I agree. The chruch is beginning to seem more corrupt the older I get. The organized religion I've experienced hasn't really shown me the way to God. The only churches I respect that I've gone to is Ross Road and the Downtown church. I've found the most effective way to share faith is through personal relationships and fellowship.
I think The Simple Life sounds really cool! Simplicity has been appealing to me lately. When are you going?
By the way, this is Samantha.
sweet! i didn't know you had a blog too!
is it too much to ask why you don't respect the church you to now?
they seem really involved in the community
And then there are times when it does seem as though the Catholic church is the original, they've certainly got the history to back them up.
And for all the crude jokes they tell about catholics at highschool it really does seem to simply be a misunderstanding of the terms.
For example, when they say the saints intercede for us, they mean it in the same way that I might ask you to pray for me when I'm going through a hard time.
And then again Im not sure if their doctrine is the best way.
Its all very confusing.
I'm not sure when Im going to Philadelphia, I'm thinking of maybe a road trip this summer, depends on how much money I earn at work. But if we get a bunch of people to go with us we might split the cost of gas and hotel fees and food.
I need to contact them and see if we would have to feed ourselves-- I would feel better if we did.
And if we did, then I'm afraid it would be ramen noodles and pbj's most the time we're there.
but being there would be worth it
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