Authentic
My posts have been more negative lately than how I live, how my faith journey is going, and more. Sorry I haven't blogged the good aspects too.
My current question in the journey of authenticity over just American style Christianity is how authentic is the church if your relationships make you feel excellent when in the confines of the walls, or even at events, but then there is no real contact or friendships outside of that?
I could be doing much better in this myself, and it isn't one church specific. I have been to many churches in my life where I felt I had amazing relationships, but only 1 of them did I actually get to have those friendships extend outside of the walls of the building or the events that they offered. That being said I know of a few very legit churches at building relationships, but also being outside the church walls for doing and living church. I know of ministries that aren't considered churches that do amazing at this too. I only bring it up to start a real conversation or thought process on this. Biblical Christianity wasn't about the church walls; that was simply one way they would fellowship or rejoice over all they had done as a living church outside the walls during the week. Our lukewarm lifestyles, our pretty sufficient self-indulgence, and our lack of depth are hurting us greatly as we continue forward. I desperately want to be of the character and depth I see in how other countries faith walks are for example. They read the word, or hear the word because they don't have access to bibles themselves, and they risk torture, death, and more. They don't stop talking about it, because they passionately love it more than they love their own existence. When I read the bible chapter by chapter to understand the depth of it all, it makes a very different picture than our church services that make us feel good for the time, but don't extend much past that. Most don't have very much scripture in them, but more stories. Also, they don't ever teach from all areas of the Bible, but what fits well with whatever hype word or popular topics people want to hear. This scares me, because it feels deceptive compared to what I have read.
It seems time to do a better job myself on relationships outside the walls, it has been a huge struggle for me since I can't attend church in person from the worship being so loud, it physically hurts both my ears and the massive amounts of metal in my neck that vibrates. If it were only my ears, I'd invest in quality earplugs I could reuse each week. I miss the friendships I thought I had, but haven't really heard from them unless I actually make it.
My current question in the journey of authenticity over just American style Christianity is how authentic is the church if your relationships make you feel excellent when in the confines of the walls, or even at events, but then there is no real contact or friendships outside of that?
I could be doing much better in this myself, and it isn't one church specific. I have been to many churches in my life where I felt I had amazing relationships, but only 1 of them did I actually get to have those friendships extend outside of the walls of the building or the events that they offered. That being said I know of a few very legit churches at building relationships, but also being outside the church walls for doing and living church. I know of ministries that aren't considered churches that do amazing at this too. I only bring it up to start a real conversation or thought process on this. Biblical Christianity wasn't about the church walls; that was simply one way they would fellowship or rejoice over all they had done as a living church outside the walls during the week. Our lukewarm lifestyles, our pretty sufficient self-indulgence, and our lack of depth are hurting us greatly as we continue forward. I desperately want to be of the character and depth I see in how other countries faith walks are for example. They read the word, or hear the word because they don't have access to bibles themselves, and they risk torture, death, and more. They don't stop talking about it, because they passionately love it more than they love their own existence. When I read the bible chapter by chapter to understand the depth of it all, it makes a very different picture than our church services that make us feel good for the time, but don't extend much past that. Most don't have very much scripture in them, but more stories. Also, they don't ever teach from all areas of the Bible, but what fits well with whatever hype word or popular topics people want to hear. This scares me, because it feels deceptive compared to what I have read.
It seems time to do a better job myself on relationships outside the walls, it has been a huge struggle for me since I can't attend church in person from the worship being so loud, it physically hurts both my ears and the massive amounts of metal in my neck that vibrates. If it were only my ears, I'd invest in quality earplugs I could reuse each week. I miss the friendships I thought I had, but haven't really heard from them unless I actually make it.
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