Is It “Church is Not For Me”?
Have you stopped going to church? Do you now say church is “not for you” because of your experiences with people there? If so, pause for a moment. Would we also say work is not for us because of difficult coworkers or management? Or that family is not for us because of painful experiences? Of course not. We understand that imperfect people exist everywhere, yet we still show up because life requires community. Church Hurt Is Real, But Isolation Hurts Even More.
No one will ever find a perfect church, because none of us will ever be perfect according to others’ expectations and standards. Each of us carries a little world within, a way of seeing life that feels right in our own eyes, making it hard for anyone else to fit into it flawlessly. Until we understand and respect this truth, we will continue to magnify the faults and imperfections of others, whether in our families, our communities, or any place we gather.
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That said, if a church or community becomes so toxic that your mental and emotional health are constantly under attack, wisdom does not require you to remain there and suffer endlessly. Step away carefully, patiently, and prayerfully. Seek another church where your soul can breathe again. We truly need one another to live healthy lives, spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.
The smiles, the love, the teachings, the moments of deep worship, the quiet seasons of crying within, the times of exhortation and correction, even the moments of misunderstanding, being misjudged, or looked down upon, all have a way of shaping the best in us. Offenses and criticism often expose our own imperfections, and when handled with grace, they mature us on every side.
And if we have settled for online fellowship alone, for whatever reason, let us remember this: soldiers are not trained to competence through online instruction alone. They grow strong by standing shoulder to shoulder with others.
If Imperfect People Are Everywhere, Why Quit Church Because of Them? Find a church. Join a community. Stand with people. It is easier to break a single piece of broom than to break a bundle held together.
Why do I need it?
