Man I feel so frustrated. Unfortunately I can't express it without sounding judgemental toward some people which I'm really not trying to be as my frustration is in generalities, so at the risk of offending some friends let me explain myself.
Basically I really feel that we have such a shallow Christianity here in Britain (and in the West in general). I'm finding cell groups at church to be so unchallenging, like I'm perpetually covering the same things over and over. Hebrews 5 says:
12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
There's no way to discuss this without sounding arrogant, but I real feel like I'm being given milk over and over and I really want some solid food! And I feel like churches never seem to get past giving out milk to everyone. Obviously we want everyone in the world to receive it and find the gospel, but I feel like church rarely knows what to do after that. For those of us who have come through it all and feel we could lead the message we're being brought it can get frustrating.
The other thing is that we discuss things in such a detached way. For instance, being poor. We talk about it in church like students are poor and discuss that, but let's face it - none of us have any idea what real poverty is. When have we ever had to go without food, or not had clothes to wear, or a house to stay in? Never! We discuss issues like beauty and wealth like we don't have them when we live in the west! WE HAVE THESE!
I'm just really keen to find a deep, life changing Christianity. I swear that we should be people who own nothing beyond basic clothes and food, who spend our time changing the lives of those in need around us. And the truth is I have literally no idea how to do this. Right now I just really want to find people who feel the same, that will enter into this kind of endeavour with me.
Christianity follows a man who owned nothing, had nowhere to live, who was hated, who had "nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him", yet used his life (and his death) to the benefit of anyone who was nearby. I really wish I was that, and I think as the church we should all be aiming to be that.
I really don't know how to express more of the frustrations I'm feeling but I hope that gives a slight taste of the tip of it. A frustration to see a radically different world where Jesus walks and talks in us.
I have never agreed with anyone more strongly.
ReplyDeleteIt's so frustrating!! And I am fully aware that I am not exactly doing much about it.
It is so difficult knowing that there is so much need; knowing who you need to be; knowing who you want to be, and yet feeling so trapped in the stupid hoops the world holds up, like every time you take a step closer, it takes a step back. Thankfully, the new youth leader at our church who runs our cells and such like, is really on fire and a passionate believer in 'meat' lol :) and outr church is moving into a time of real change, reaching out into the community and making a difference.
I still feel it though.
It's like the devil is laughing at us.
Sometimes, I just want to get up and leave, take nothing with me just like Jesus told the disciples to do the first time He sent them out. Jump on a plane, or hitch-hike... not even necessarily leaving the country! Just going...
And you're right... I've always thought and wanted that... to have nothing on this earth, but saving up treasures in the next. :)
Thanks
Really inspiring...
P.S. I've got a blog too... here's the link if you want to check it out...
ReplyDeletewww.rosiejesusfreak.blogspot.com
If you do not feel that your needs are being met at church or at cell then maybe you need to look at somewhere different.
ReplyDeleteI believe that simple is the way forward. Church should be simple. You never know who will be in that service. The basics of Christianity should be repeated over and over again so that any person coming to church for the first time knows that they are loved so much that this amazing guy, Jesus would give up his life for them.
Imagine you knew nothing about God or Christianity, it was your first time at church and you hear all this heavy stuff being preached at you. Chances are it's going to scare you off.
I agree that people do need more than 'milk', however there are other ways in which to get this.