What Have We Become?

I have recently found myself coming in contact with more and more homeless Christians. Christians who love God, have passion for God, carry the gifts and the callings of God but are wandering, some seeking for a place of fellowship they can call home and others staying away from the place of fellowship they call home.

It would seem, with what has been transpiring over the past three years in our world that more Christians, and non-Christians, would desire to either stay locked in to a place of fellowship or find a place of fellowship they can stay locked into. But that doesn’t seem to be the case.

When in conversation with these individuals the same themes seemed to come up. They weren’t staying away from church because of the Worship or because of the Word but because everything else seemed to be out of order and out of God’s character, including a lack of God’s Love. The church, to them, was slowly looking more like the world with its props, entertainment and falsehood. They shared that we, the church, seem more concerned with advancing our lifestyle rather than our relationship with God. Makes sense, when a person is hurting, possibly contemplating suicide they aren’t desiring to hear how God is going to bless them with a car or a home. Furthermore, if they come in contact with the wrong representation of God, well, we could lose a soul.

My concern is that if Christians, who have a true relationship with God, are feeling this way, then what are those with no relationship with God feeling? While we are yet to be a fragrance it seems we are becoming more of an odor. We seem to have strayed from why we do what we do and to whom we are to be doing it to. The Word says that if God is lifted up, not people, that He (God Himself) will draw all men unto Him. If we are repelling people then we need to question whom we are lifting up and where our focus is? God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only son. Why then do we stick up our nose and feed into the concept that God doesn’t love the prostitute, the addict or the homosexual and only loves the perfect holy-roller? Has the church lost its focus or is that the church has become so hurt and wounded it can no longer bring forth the healing so many are seeking after?

It’s time more than ever to get back to the foundation, open up and let people in. Time to stop pointing blame, especially within the church, because, truth is, those under leadership have just as much to do with it. In God’s Generals it states that one can lead a move of God, but the people also have a part to play, and that if a move of God fades, then it is partly because the people never continued in what they received. (Selah)

I attend church and I have served in church so I’ve seen from both the inside and the outside and I can relate to both, if not all sides. I’ve witnessed what they are talking about and sometimes have agreed with what they are talking about. I’ve been there, where the place, which should have brought healing, encouragement and edification to my Spirit, was bringing hurt and offense. I too felt like, “Why should I attend when I can get this kind of treatment outside from people who don’t know any better? ” People tend to forget their actions have a voice and too often forget that because God IS in us that whatever they do to us they are in fact doing to Him. We forget that sowing seeds of strife and discord have a direct effect not just on us but the church as a whole.

Most recently the Lord reminded me that hurting people hurt people. Doesn’t matter what position or title they hold. It’s a fact. At some point, our flesh is going to come out and it will want to react. At some point our flesh will make a decision that doesn’t line up with His Spirit. I’ve seen it, I’ve been there, I’ve reacted at times and I can personally relate to the side of serving in a church and all that comes with it. It isn’t always easy. The pressures and sometimes stress, feeling like you always have to be “on” when at times the reality is you just want to turn the switch “off”, being spread out to thin or placed in positions there is no grace for because of need, and of course, having to show up and smile when inside your dying and outside you are dealing with a situation that no one knows anything about because no one takes the time to ask how you are because in these positions others will separate you from your function and begin to see your function more than your person.

We must realize that when we come in contact with these people or situations, whether we are on the offending side or the offense side that we are not God, we are people, human beings going through a journey we have never been on before, learning and figuring it out along the way, making mistakes yet pressing in, attempting to follow and execute directives, some of us without the grace or the Anointing to do so, and at the same time dealing with our personal lives and getting acquainted not only with God but with ourselves, the real us, and our Anointing, and it can be a lot. We must remind ourselves that every answer we need in His Word. If something appears out of order, then pray. If something appears to need change then change it. Be the solution and not the problem. If someone offends, forgive. If you offend, ask for forgiveness. Time to refocus, shut up and march.

We must remember that we are in partnership with God. He has trusted us to be His example on Earth. Whatever drew you to God allow that quality to be in you so you can draw others. Look to Him as your example. He didn’t shun away those with a past, or a situation, He embraced them. And I mean genuinely. Not because He needed or wanted something, but simply because He desired to be pleasing to the One who gives you life and continues to give you life. We must remember the Great Commission. Why we are here? We are to be fisher of men, not cars and houses. This is about people’s souls, people who are precious to God. Reality is, when in your assignment, that other stuff will come. Even more of a reality, it will come not just for you but also for others. We must remember the greatest commandment and choose to Love. We must be the Place of Grace, where whoever can be healed of whatever. We must remember how God has dealt with us so that we can deal with others the same, without judgment and with compassion. And we must remember we are not God, we are humans. It’s OK, especially for those who serve to take a break. It’s OK to make mistakes along the way, as long as you fix them. It’s OK to not be perfect, as long as you remain available.

To you, who know where you belong but have been hurt, disappointed or offended in some way, take your focus off of people, off the building and off situations and keep your focus on God. STAY in the place HE sets you. Don’t allow anyone, including self, to move you. Stay in communion with Him. Stay consecrated to Him. Stay in obedience to Him. He’s got this.

To you, who have doubts of belonging to a place of fellowship, I get it. But don’t allow us, and our mistakes to dictate who God is and who God can be to you. Come as you are and experience Him for yourself.