MANTRA

"If I knew all the words, I would write myself out of here." MRAZ

Thursday, September 4, 2008

are you in church?

It happened again today.
I was talking to someone I haven't spoken to in a long time, and the question came up,"Jenny, are you in church?"

I can't begin to tell you the amount of people that have asked me whether I was in church...or admonish me that I really should be in church.
And I can't begin to tell you how tired I am of this question!

NO (for the sake of you reading who don't know that answer), I am not in church.
And have many reasons as to why I am currently not attending church.
And I know that I should be in church- I did grow up in church, after all. But that's not the point I am arguing.

Why doesn't anyone ask me, "Jenny, how is your relationship with God?" OR "Jenny, what is God teaching you?" Either of these questions would be more interesting and CERTAINLY more challenging.

1. Could it be that no one questions my "David-like" walk with God, and are therefore harping on the only travesty?
2. Maybe my behavior is so un-God-like that all people can think is, "Dear Jesus, that woman needs to get back in church. That's the only place that's gonna help her!"
3. Or are people afraid to ask a question with meat? A direct, "where are you with God," would stop anyone in their tracks, and focus on matters of the heart and soul.

I just find it interesting how people handle me.
Is it their intention to probe me gently, thereby asking a less intrusive question? And when they hear the answer, offering me the easy catechism- forsake not the fellowship of other believers.

Or are they afraid of what they are gonna get when they ask me the infinitely more important question? And so, don't even bother; their excuses being: too much effort, too much time, too much Jenny, or sadly, not really interested.

2 comments:

Susanne said...

Isn't it funny how people who claim to be saved by grace through faith often live as if good works or a list of rules are what keep them saved?

Should you go to church simply to please "the Christian community" or so you can have a ready answer when someone asks do you go to church? God knows our hearts afterall and do we seek to please MEN or GOD?

So, what IS God teaching you? I'm interested. Really.

hardwear said...

So am I, and I'm sorry. It's hard to ask the hard questions sometimes. I hope your angst hasnt pushed you too far. SO, How is your walk with Him, what is He showing you in these days? In this part of your walk into discipleship? I would love to know, because we love you. H n M