I Wonder...
I've been an active church member since 1972. Anyone who has been going to church for any length of time sometimes find themselves questioning, why we do the things we do in church.
Or is it just me?
The things I wonder about might sound critical, but they are usually questions I ask of my own self first and then why other believers participate in said situations as well.
Here goes a few.
I wonder... why do we send shoe boxes (filled with gifts)around the world to foreign children, yet neglect the poor, needy, spiritually deprived children that live just across town? You know the part of town I'm talking about right?
I wonder... what is so wrong about a "feel good" preacher? Wasn't Jesus the ultimate "feel good" preacher of all time? Didn't He talk a whole lot about love, mercy, forgiveness and acceptance? OK...so he lost it ONE time in the temple.
I wonder...why do you have to be a white collar business owner to be a member of the Gideons? It seems to be a highly exclusive club. I wonder, aren't the blue collar working man just as capable of handing out bibles and telling folks about Jesus? Was Gideon of the bible a business owner?
I wonder ...why do folks insist on inserting politics into their prayers when they are called upon to pray publicly in church. This is annoying to those who may not feel the same way. OK...I confess, it don't just annoy me, sometimes it makes me angry.
I wonder...why church folk say "I missed you" when you've missed going to church a Sunday, knowing full well "I missed you" is most always interpreted by the hearer as "why were you not here"?
I wonder...why is it so much easier to forgive a stranger on the street for his imperfections and humanity, than it is to forgive a brother or sister in Christ we go to church with Sunday after Sunday. The same problem plagues us all--in church or out--sin.
I know, this post should have been titled "Things That Tick Me Off In Church" but "I Wonder" sounded "sweeter".
So, these are a few of the things I wonder about. I feel better for having wrote them down. It's OK if you don't wonder about the same things as I wonder about. I wonder if there are things in church or out that you may wonder about. If so, feel free to tell me about them in the comment section.
Blessings, peace, all that is good, have a great Monday everyone!
Debra
12 comments:
first time commenting on your blog; I have to say it is because the church is made up of people, imperfect people; sinners saved by grace of God and the blood of Jesus. Church members and goers are not perfect, they just realize they need a Savior, sometimes the things they do doesn't make sense, but most of the time I think their hearts could be in the right place.
betty
Interesting post, Debra. Yesterday I walked in the middle of a church service. It was a combination of things that got to me. Sigh. This woman with an opinion sits in the back row because the walking out happens more than I'd like to admit.
Debra, I wonder a lot of these same things as you do, especially the one about helping those in our own country. Perhaps the people in third world countries are more responsive since this is the first they have heard about Jesus.
I don't really know the answer.
I know that the Bible says that we should love our neighbor as ourselves.
To question is great, to listen for an answer may not be forth coming. Patience will show the way.
Keep the questions flowing.
I do understand! Adding my own... why do the drummers have to begin beating those things at the first chord of the song being played or sung? I have figured out I am NOT a drum fan. The loud beat of drums drowns out the worship for me.
On the other hand, drums are mentioned in the Bible... isn't it going to be amazing when we get to heaven and no one will be 'ticked off'! :)
I wonder about church membership. When one receives Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior does he not become a member of the whole Body of Christ?
My other peeve in the church is mixing the law with Grace. If we're required to keep the 'law' then we need to keep the whole law and not certain parts that are most beneficial to us.
OK, that's my rant!
God bless and hope all is well.
I'm not a fan of Christian Rock, but I try to tolerate it. Obviously it floats the boats of some folks, but not me!
Debra,
I wonder about the same things, especially as I ponder 2 Tim. 3:1-7. We can make all the excuses we want but truthfully, the church (over all) is a mess.
I asked someone the other day, "What would happen if all of the churches in America took one Sunday a month and said, 'We're taking no tithes or offerings - and we're not opening the doors of the church today. Instead, we encourage you all to take your money and your time and go into your communities and being led by the Spirit - meet the spiritual and practical needs of the people you find there'?"
My friend answered, "We could never do that. Churches wouldn't be able to recoup their financial losses. The pastors need those salaries, the churches need to pay their bills and their staff!" :(
What can I say? Thank you for the poignant way you shared all of this. It's all been very heavy on my heart lately too.
Hugs,
Deb
For me....it's so many "believers" taking up huge amounts of time telling each other what they believe is wrong and how horrible they are for this or that...when the unbeliever is a second thought
;0)
Lots of great questions and equally good comments. ANy of us who have been church goers for any amount of time have many questions..and things that irritate us. Such a big lot of imperfect people we are, but the key is in knowing our imperfections, instead of thinking we're all that and a bag of chips!
Love your honesty!
Oh, Debra...I have sooooo many "I wonder" things now that we are in a new church in a new state to us!! lol. GREAT post as always! You really, really should write a book. Oh, and the Gideon's thing ALWAYS ticked me off when they'd visit our church because my Dad would not have been allowed in their "club" because he was blue collar. WRONG. Just WRONG in my book! Before we were married my husband rented a room off of a Gideon member and his wife. For the annual Gideon Christmas party she purchased a pair of whity-tidies that were 6'x10' as a prize. Yeah...that screams, "We're classier than you!" Plus, a few weeks after our wedding they sent us a card that basically said, "Your wedding was not done according to the rules of etiquette. Your parents should really have purchased a book so that people wouldn't have been offended. Please note that we removed our monetary gift from this card." SERIOUSLY?!!! Okay...now I'll step off my soap box... Hope you're having a great day! I've missed visiting your blog!
Debra,I do wonder about a lot of the same things you mentioned here!! Sometimes I think we make things too hard and too formal. I believe when we get to heaven we will see that some things we thought were necessary were just legalities. And some things we just fluff over should have been taking more seriously. Just my thoughts!
Am so enjoying reading your blog!
Marilyn...in Mississippi
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