Is anybody sitting through church services and feeling lonely every week? Then frustrated because you were spiritually hungry and left disappointed and felt like you wasted so much time and energy and are exhausted?
Following is a comment I shared with someone who replied to another post that it is important that we meet together:
So that first comment was the Biblical basis of what I'm saying, but this is to expound on my personal experience and feelings regarding the church service. According to scripture, spiritual maturity or "meat" is equated to doing the works of the Father, and being able to teach each other. The typical church service has very little meat for mature Christians.
I grew up in an institutional church, one that was much more active and participatory than most, and I'm quite grateful for what I received there in that season. Yet even there, and it was one of the best, they didn't really know what to do with a Christian who starts walking in God's power and coming to maturity.
I have been ministering healing and deliverance since I was 19 or 20 years old. I've seen thousands of miracles and many people set free from demons. Just three nights ago, I saw a homeless lady with a severely contorted body healed and walking straight. Another man manifested demons and collapsed on the sidewalk as we prayed. Two nights ago, a partially deaf man's hearing was restored. I can't even recount the testimonies in a month. Miracles in restaurants, parks, on the street. Praying for the whole staff of a restaurant and everyone who stated a need being healed.
A typical church service is less conducive to praying for others and acting as a member of Christ's body than most other environments. Even in the most participatory churches, it's usually difficult.
I love talking about God's word. I can do that more easily in a restaurant with unbelievers than I can in a church service. I love reading the Bible. Paul wrote to Timothy, "Devote yourselves to the public reading of scripture." 99% of the time, it would be far more edifying to read the Bible together and talk about what it says than to listen to a sermon.
I've faced many hard times in life, stress, little time with family. My wife works so much. I can't tell you how many church services I've sat through and felt lonely when I was longing for friendship and relationship. A few people say, "Hi" and we sit through a long program and everyone goes home. I didn't get to pray for people. I didn't get to encourage others. I didn't get to open my heart with a brother. And I felt like I wasted precious time with family on the only day my wife doesn't work.
People talk about the importance of fellowship, discipleship, accountability, being connected to the body of Christ. My experience is that the typical church service hinders all of those things rather than facilitating them. I feel lonely at times because my Christian friends, who I once had such good times with, get so consumed with meetings and programs. They invite me to a meeting and we don't even talk. Or they are now "going to a different church" and it's all about the institution, not about the body of Christ.
Something is seriously wrong when I spend hours and hours every week praying for people and I love it, I long for communion, I want to hang out and talk with friends, and of course what I want to talk about is Jesus and God's word because that's what I love. My idea of a good time, more fun than anything else, is going out and praying for people and sharing the gospel. But I am totally exhausted with religious programs. I feel like I can barely stand another church service.
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