The woman in this article recounts what is probably a pretty typical experience. When people visit church, are they met with warmth, kindness, and unconditional love, or are they scrutinized, criticized, and ostracized for being different or for simply being new?
But if we are the Body
Why aren’t His arms reaching?
Why aren’t His hands healing?
Why aren’t His words teaching?
And if we are the Body
Why aren’t His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them
There is a way?
Jesus is the Way
“If We Are the Body,” Casting Crowns
I have had various experiences in churches where because you are new, or different, etc.. you get ostricized and mistreated, or simply as a new Christian you are greeted with a cold shoulder or rude, intolerant and ignorant behavior when looking to make friends and get wrapped in the love of Christ as it should be. However, after hitting myself against the wall with this time and time again, i finally realized that going to church is like walking into any organization, only there you go to hear God speak, and receive the power to live for Christ outside in the world.
The best thing (particularly for a new Christian) to do in church is to not try to get close to anyone right away. Go there, enjoy the worship, hear the word, give your tithe/offering, greet others, including the pastors and leaders if they are on your way out, and then go home. Don’t try to make friends right away, don’t try to get involved in ministry right away, etc… grow there first, see how you like it, and then once you are sure you want to remain, move on.
In my opinion, it’s all about keeping your eyes open, even if you are in a Godly institution. Remember, we are not in heaven yet, and there are imperfect individuals in church just like anywhere else…and chances are, if they have been there for a long time, and have established a certain comfort zone there, they will act more like themselves than you or anyone else. Their boundaries may have been erased somewhat and they may feel they can get away with more because of the relationships they have established or popularity among other members due to the fact that they serve in a ministry or are close to the leadership, etc…
Just like you would anywhere else, while keeping a Godly attitude, assess your environment, learn who is who, see who you feel safe getting close to or keeping your distance from, and in doing so you will protect your self, or as the Word of God says, “guard your heart” so that you won’t feel the need to church hop or uproot yourself and go somewhere else, where you might find the same attitudes and the same problem universally.
I hope this helps!
The most surefire way to drive dissilusioned Christians into the arms of the cults is to withhold love and fellowship from them and make them feel unwanted. Any port in a storm. I’ve seen people get so turned off by unchristian behavior from God’s so-called children that they stop believing in Jesus and the Bible. Tragic. Love one another as I have loved you, Jesus said, but all you see in these fancy dancy religious clubs is self-centered, snobbish, aristocratic, materialistic cliques. Don’t just SING about Jesus, SHOW me Jesus!