It truly was church I had an issue with. I NEVER once said I hate God or decided that he didn't exist or anything of the sort, I knew he was there, I knew he was watching me, but I didn't necessarily care. I walked around daily with the guilt of knowing I was sinning everyday, but was still determined to live my life my way.
My problem was the institution known as the church. Organized religion really didn't sit well with me after my home church turned it's back on me, my newly wedded husband, and our unborn child. Wouldn't it be the same for most people? Yes it is.
God is great! He is so Good, but his "body" could use A LOT of help, Which brings me to my title for this post, When Saints forget.....
The word “saint” comes from the Greek word hagios, which means “consecrated to God, holy, sacred, pious."
God calls us his saints. BUT before you were saved, were you still a saint? whether you were raised from birth in a church, were saved as a child like I was (9 years old) or not till a teen or adult, you were a sinner! News flash, you are STILL a sinner! Even now as a saint, you still fall short of God's glory daily!
Good News!!!
Amazing isn't it? Me who is fully aware that I do not under any circumstance deserve God's grace, received it anyway, and continue to receive it daily!
Ephesians 2:8-9 says: "8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast."
It so clearly states that you, nor I earned our salvation, but that God gave it to us as a gift. I love how clear verse 9 is though, not by works. NOT BY WORKS! why? so that not one man can say he is better than another or boast! I LOVE THAT!!!!
With it being so clear, how is it that as God's saints we forget what broken down sinners we'd be without God's Grace?
Who are you to turn your nose up at someone walking through the front doors of your church seeking The Lord? When did your mistakes become meaningless enough for you to be able to afford to judge anyone else?
When did you forget where you came from oh saint of God?
I'll tell you something that I always found HILLARIOUS!!! The minister, of the home church that shunned me, I believe was one of the main reasons for my out and out rejection from my church family (and even my parents for about 6 months). Know what he was before he became a pastor? A raging alcoholic, and a mean one at that. To this day a very proud, arrogant man.
How does that even work? I was a 17 year old kid who fell in love and did things backwards. I got married, I made my peace with God for that, and HE forgave me for that. In the end it didn't matter anymore. I was no longer allowed in the inner circle I had been so actively involved in. My dad a church elder, and was at that church until the day he died, not even that would have allowed me back into the good graces of that church!
This is why churches die, this is why the world looks at "christians" and thinks, no thanks, I'd rather not. Atleast the world doesn't hide behind a claim of Love. They know that they're on their own out there.
How DARE we not extend grace freely given but so readily take it from our Father, How dare we think somehow that WE deserve it more than the next guy. If you're feeling like you aren't given much grace from other's take a look at how much you've been handing out lately before you start feeling sorry for yourself!
To be like such is to make a mockery of the sacrifice of Gods only son, the Grace that NOT ONE of us will ever earn even if we were given 10 lifetimes to try.
Next time someone new walks into your church, Get off your butt, and do something! Appreciate the gift God has given and show this person what the love of God is all about. YOU may be the one shot for this person, the way they are received by you, by your church, may be the deciding factor on where that person spends their eternity! And you may end up answering for it when you stand in front of your creator the day of your judgment!
Don't ever forget where you came from, because when you do, you forget how much God has blessed you to get you out of that mess and is now enabling you to, through Him, help someone else out of their mess!
Be a saint worth talking about, Be humble enough to allow God to use you to reach the multitude still stuck in the darkness. Be someone who always remembers how great the sacrifice was for you and Don't be a saint who forgets!
I have come across many people that feel very shunned, or violated by "organized religion". I have never known what to say to someone when they express a disdain for said organization but this much I have learned from my husband.
ReplyDelete"The church (any church) is made up of imperfect people. You can not judge a congregation of church people by the people themselves. They are there to work out their own salvation with God. As you said it is through God's grace that we are here and it will be through his grace that are able to return to live with him, should we prove ourselves worthy.
I love your insights Kate!
I agree! although as christians, in my eyes, anyway, WE need to know better, People of the world don't think oh those church folk are just a bunch of broken people too, they think they need what we have, and it's up to us to show them that yes indeed they do need what we have! Churches are like hospitals but with the sick, wounded and tired helping eachother, when we stop wanting to do those things, When we limit ourselves to being sunday christians showing up to church but going home to live like everyone else in the world does the rest of the week, that's when we've lost sight of the fact that we are to be the physical LIGHT to this world. God expects us to be the ones to help find the lost and bring them home to him. Christans like anyone else get lazy, thinking the next person will pick up the slack and then no one ever actually does and all areas of ministry suffer. We need to keep ourselves from being lazy and ungreatful, spoiled children and wake up every morning thankful for another day to worship, and serve our King. More need to be willing to say here I am Lord, Use me! I don't think enough of us do that anymore.
ReplyDeleteThis post (and your reply, above) sounds like it could have been from our studies this week. The Royal Law : "Love your neighbor as yourself"........ and another fact that is echoed throughout scripture: God does not show favouritism. As Mercy has been extended to you, so extend that mercy to others.
ReplyDeleteGood word, Kate.
Mom this was so great! I was very inspired by the word you have so greatly put out in the world, how God has worked in you to give such a great story and life lesson to all. So many are going to look at this and see what I see. A brave, Kind-heart super hero with a boldness to her. You are my Super hero, I love you!
ReplyDelete