A Little More God and a Lot Less Church

Okay, so I know that sounds kind of weird. But, here is where my thoughts have been for quite some time now on church. I don't want this to sound bad, but I feel like I am there more than I am home, and I really know little more than I did before I left to go about the God that I serve. We have Sunday School and Sunday Morning Service, Choir Practice and Sunday Evening Service, Monday Night FAITH and Wednesday Night Awanas. I could have signed up for softball if I wanted to, and that would make four nights a week. Don't know if all of this is because my life feels like such a mess right now and I am resentful, or if it is true. But, I feel like church has lost it's meaning some for me. Like it is nothing more than a contest and fellowship to see who is the best. I leave most days feeling condemned rather than convicted. Countless drama is always surrounding what is supposed to be the most sacred of places that we can meet here on earth. The talk in the church is about the latest mess ups in people's lives and the latest happenings, rarely about serving God. It's like people think that they are saved and they need to do nothing more to get into Heaven, so they don't try. There are cliques everywhere and everyone wants to be in the other's business. Guess I am sort of on overload. But, I thought that we come to church for the fellowship, yes, but most importantly, to reach and teach the lost and disciple the younger ones in Christ that are there with us and outside the walls. Just one look around at all of the faces and eyes and you can see the sadness and disappointment that lies within and you will know that we are not sharing Jesus and binding up the brokenhearted.

What happened to wanting more of Jesus? Now it seems it is every man for himself and we are there just as a social gathering. If we get to loud in my class playing a game, the children's director comes over and says that we may be offending the adult class next door so we need to keep it down. What happened to using whatever method necessary for teaching about salvation in Christ? Why is everyone worried about pleasing others and not God? Isn't it true that if we please God, then that is all that matters and it will please most people anyway? Tithes and offerings are down, but the demand for help from the church is up. God raises up kingdoms and takes them down, and I don't want to be part of a kingdom that He chooses to take down. Times are growing increasingly evil and I am afraid we are getting less and less prepared for the battle that is about to begin. I am afraid that as a church and probably safe to say as a nation, that we are slowly letting our guard down. Lord help us all.

Father God, help me to seek you always. Help me not to get caught up in the latest gossip, and help me to realize that it is not all about me, but it truly is ALL ABOUT YOU, Jesus. Help our church and our nation to put on the spiritual armor necessary for the battle that has already begun. In your sweet name I pray...