The Church Is Full of Flawed People - Part II

Yes, the church is full of flawed people, but someone wise said, "God loves us too much to leave us the way we are."* When God entered my life, I was a new creation, but that didn't mean I quit making mistakes. Throughout my life, I've found myself having to adjust my 'want to' or habits because sometimes they pull me certain directions that keep me from growing or living the best way possible. And every person's path is unique. I want to repeat that because what I am going to share applies to my journey with the Lord. Every person's path is unique.

Years ago when I was in my twenties, God impressed on my mind that I needed to quit watching my ONE soap opera. But Lord, it's only one! Some people watch soaps all day long! But the prompting didn't go away. That was hard, especially when God didn't give my mother the same prompting, and she had TWO favorite soap operas. : ) But He wasn't talking to her about her soap operas. He was talking to me about my soap opera, and I quit watching it. And my precious, godly Mother continued to watch her two soaps for the rest of her life. Different paths.

A while back, I was reading a book I really enjoyed, although it had some steamy scenes I would skim over, but I felt a nudge to put it down. I was close to the end of this book, and I tried to tell myself that little voice was just my own mind feeling guilty about enjoying something. But the thought entered my head, What if it wasn't? Is finishing this book more important than following God's leading? I shut the book and turned it back in to the library without finishing it. It felt similar to exercising a little will power turning down a calorie-laden dessert, which I should've done more often in my life. [obviously, Donna]

This past year, more and more of my time in the evening has been filled with watching a long list of my favorite TV shows. And I felt the nudge again last Saturday-- the day before the season finale of Downton Abbey! I thought, No, Lord, not this one! Surely, that thought was a figment of my imagination or some twisted guilty instinct that rears up when I start enjoying something too much. I wasn't too happy about it, but I didn't watch it, nor the other four shows I faithfully watched on Sunday nights.

And I whined to several Christian friends, hoping they would tell me this was all in my head, giving me permission to go ahead and watch the shows. But they didn't. In fact, one of them asked me if my TV watching was hindering my walk with the Lord somehow. Oh, you mean like hours and hours of escapism? I pat myself on the back that I don't watch TV during the day, but other than Saturday night, I had my list of favorites, even DVRing the ones that overlapped. I can easily replace 'living my life' with living vicariously through books or social media or TV shows, and God knows that about me and has to remind me every so often to let go and start living for reals. [No, movies haven't affected me at all]. 

Unplugged

Something happens, though, when I follow God's leading. It feels like the spiritual pipes become unplugged. God may very well allow me to watch these shows again, because it's not necessarily the shows that are bad (although sometimes it is), but rather how they're affecting my thoughts or stealing time away from writing or connecting with people or the maintenance of life or simply living life or most importantly... Him.

God may prompt us to stop going somewhere or loosen up on relationships that are affecting us negatively or changing bad habits. But we mustn't look at other people's lives and try to pattern ourselves after them. God works differently in every life, and the model for each of us is Christ.

A dear friend invited me to attend Community Bible Study, which is open to anyone. The study is in-depth, and it was no accident that my lesson this morning was on Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will." God's timing is amazing.

Yes, the church is full of flawed people, but we go to church to heal and grow and be transformed, to connect with others who are attempting to do the same. Forgive us if the church has made you feel otherwise.


*I first heard that statement in my Sunday School class, and I looked it up to give credit to who first said it, but I found it quoted on many websites with no attribution. But it speaks much truth, and thank you to whoever wrote it.