ARE YOU MAD AT GOD OR THE CHURCH?

This picture of me was taken close to the beginning of my walk with Christ. This is a look of innocence. When I came into church I had a wrong view. My friend told me that I had an expectation coming in the church to sit in a circle and we all would hold hands and sing Kumbaya, My Lord (Come by here Lord).  I was very naïve about a lot of things and my picture of what church should be was not what I experienced at all. Just about all of my most painful experiences happened in the church. I never had thoughts of backsliding but at some point, I had thoughts of leaving my then church based on all that was happening.

The Lord told me early that I was to blossom where I was planted. The Church is a big field with all kinds of soils and plants. It takes a lot to tend to a field like this. Sometimes the farmer (The Pastor) doesn’t know what kind of treatment you need. The church is also said to be a hospital. We all come in with a variety of ailments and sometimes it takes several tests to discover what is wrong to apply the correct treatment. Several sick people in one place are difficult to handle. Ask any doctor or nurse! We all believe our ailment is more important than someone else’s and we are clueless as to their diagnosis to accurately determine that. Some of us do not want to take the prescribed medicines, some want a second opinion, some do not follow the dosages given and the challenges go on and on. I have been to the hospital and seen people behave so badly because they are in pain and it makes it difficult for those caring for them to attend to them. As sheep, we sometimes become so blinded by what we need and have certain expectations of our earthly Shepherds that we forget it’s our Heavenly Shepherd who will supply all our needs! Shepherds are human. Yes, they are held at a higher standard, but still human. This is the very reason that we are told to pray much for them. The church would naturally be a challenging place as the adversary hates us, his job is to steal, kill and destroy. He hates when Christians thrive and he absolutely despises unity. So of course he would take his “A” game to the church. In the hospital there is constant sanitizing and sterilizing to see it that the likelihood of someone’s condition worsening from the environment is drastically reduced. It is the same with the church of the living God. If we do not pay attention to consecration and accept sanctification we all are just going to keep getting sick and be unable to truly help each other! HELP US ALL LORD!

When we come into the church, we should see it for what it really is and adjust our expectations accordingly and ensure we keep the main thing the main thing, which is building a relationship with Christ. I spent over twenty years at that church and I can say I have no regrets. Was it perfect? No. Were there times when I resented being there? Yes, BUT, to God be the glory, because I chose to submit to the will of God for my life, I did bloom beautifully where I was planted.

My hurt and disappointment with people in church paled in comparison to the love and fire that was burning in my heart for the Lord Jesus Christ. My desire was and still is to please Him with every fiber of my being. I watched over the years the wealth of knowledge and experience gained in church. I am a strong Christian and leader now because I chose not to abort the process that God had set up for me at my former church. I am forever grateful for every leader and individual that I encountered there.

Jeremiah 23:3-6 The Message – An Authentic David-Branch 23 ^1-4 “Doom to the shepherd-leaders who butcher and scatter my sheep!” God’s Decree. “So here is what I, God, Israel’s God, say to the shepherd-leaders who misled my people: ‘You’ve scattered my sheep. You’ve driven them off. You haven’t kept your eye on them. Well, let me tell you, I’m keeping my eye on you, keeping track of your criminal behavior. I’ll take over and gather what’s left of my sheep, gather them in from all the lands where I’ve driven them. I’ll bring them back where they belong, and they’ll recover and flourish. I’ll set shepherd-leaders over them who will take good care of them. They won’t live in fear or panic anymore. All the lost sheep rounded up!’ God’s Decree.

This Scripture reminds us that the Heavenly Shepherd watches over the earthly shepherds. They will be held accountable, and they will receive their just reward or punishment. For every hurting Sheep, look to the Heavenly Shepherd. Allow Him to navigate your life and order your steps. If you are sold out to Him, it’s just a matter of time before you land in the hands of a Shepherd who will take good care of you and you won’t live in fear anymore. If some of us sheep were to be honest, we give the shepherd a lot of trouble. Keep praying over your shepherds. Do not walk away from God because you had a bad experience in the church, whether from leadership or fellow saints. The gates of hell will never be able to ultimately prevail against the church! We have to believe this. God has a plan as to how to get his church on track and how to deal with His shepherd and their sheep. Let’s choose to trust the God who has everything in control!

I also would like to apologize sincerely on behalf of myself and all shepherds for any pain, sorrow, abuse, or misuse that you may have encountered. May God give you the grace to forgive and be ready for the leader after God’s own heart that you are about to receive in Jesus name!