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Finding Freedom in Church when I used to
be so bound in church!
It
is funny how I came to the realization of what I like doing. It is odd how it
all came about.
What
is it that I like doing? That something
is attending church.
I
say it is odd the way that I came to the realization that I like this. The odd way it came about was by listening to
some one that virtually hates church… or the way that it operates today.
I
have to agree with my friend that I am not overly impressed with what I have
seen in the past. But I also have to disagree with some things that are being
said about church today.
So
you are not a church goer or attender – or maybe you even hate some Christians
or what Christians have done to you.
Please don’t read further if that is the case. I might turn you off even
more.
Yesterday
it came to me… I like people. I like my
friends that sit near me in church, that shake my hand and that greet me. They want
to talk about life and what they are doing. Many are lonely and just need a
friend. I saw that happen in church
yesterday.
I
specially appreciated the Pastor of the church I attended yesterday. He allowed
us to fellowship and talk a long time. Maybe the fact that was when he turned
people loose to greet each other they wouldn’t return to their seats. What fun
that was! Pure pandemonium – but in a
great way!
Now
I have discovered that I love a number of churches over this past year. I have
made friends in each church. In almost all of them people were very friendly
and open. They love us for what we are –
just ordinary people like they are.
In
some churches it is easier to just be an ordinary person... in other places it
is harder to be ordinary in that they still know me as a “Pastor” – maybe even
their “Pastor”. I have avoided that
title for a while now… and it is feeling better as I pull away to become “Murray”.
I
have come to the realization that if you use the “F” word all the time you will
likely keep using it so often that you will not be able to hear or know when
you use it. That is true too when you are around people that swear bitterly all
the time… you can’t hear when you start using the same language. It is also true if you are around people that
hate something or someone – you will start hating too. It is easy to do.
When
you let someone that hates be in your life you can pick up the hate real easy.
I
was in church yesterday sitting in a familiar pew. For 14 years a person that
hated had sat in one of the pews up ahead of where I was sitting. It dawned on
me yesterday that she is gone now… never to return again… and I no longer have
to cringe when I see her – because she is not there.
It
was another revelation at a kind of a funny moment… I was free of that misery –
forever.
My
second thought was, I hope that no one has to feel that way about me – EVER! What can I do to make sure that I am never to
become a grumpy old senior that causes misery in every other person’s life?
During
the shaking of hands I was surrounded by the new college and university students
that smiled broadly and were shaking my hand. They had no idea who I was. They
were just filled with freedom and joy… so innocent and so full of love. Many are not allowed to do shake hands in
church or may have never done this before… and they were loving it thoroughly!
When
we sat down I smiled. “I like this” came to my mind.
I
have liked this in the Presbyterian, Baptist, Brethren, Catholic, Charismatic
and a number of other churches. And when
it doesn’t happen I know that I don’t need to be there each week… and move on.
Mind
I know that if I was stuck in an unfriendly place and had one of two miserable
old biddies or buddies to glare at me – I wouldn’t want to come back either!!!
So
today I toast freedom in church… my freedom. Wahoo – it feels so good!
My
wife looked at me yesterday and said with a smile, “I think I would like to go
to a Black Church someday soon.” It is
no in the plan… I say with a big smile on my face. I am free now – so very
free!
Murray
Lincoln
1 comment:
Totally agree Murray. I like everything that you talked about as well. Well almost. Not so much the fact that people needed to be given permission by the pastor to take some time with each other.
But what also came to mind was Brooks from the movie Shawshank Redemption.
Did Jesus really die to have us create the system you are describing? No doubt, it has to feel good for those who attend or they wouldn't keep doing it. But is that what validates all that needs to happen in order to create that little happy feeling?
"The ideal tyranny is that which is ignorantly self-administered by its victims. The most perfect slaves are, therefore, those which blissfully and unawaredly enslave themselves." -- Dresden James
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