Published by We like to be able to walk into church and smile.
“Hi, how are you?” Smile.
“Great! How are you?” Smile.
But let’s face it—we don’t always feel like smiling. There are times that we walk into church after such a difficult week that we just want to peel back the sky and cry out to God, “Where are you?! Why don’t you do something to help me?! I’m getting crushed down here, and all you can do is give me a bunch of platitudes about “Blessed are the poor in spirit!”
When we feel this way, we can count on walking into church, and having people hug us. Then we will feel better. Right?
If that’s the way it happens where you attend, I want to know where you’re going to church. Because in the churches I’ve tried, the people are so busy whipping around teaching classes, preparing the Lord’s Supper, turning on the heat, and all the rest of it, that they hardly even talk to each other any more. They say, “Hi, how ya doin’?” Then rush off to whatever duty they have to perform, without listening for the answer.
As I sat in church on the verge of tears this morning, my mind went back to a bar I was in on karaoke night not long ago. People came in, greeting each other with smiles and hugs. It was obvious that they cared for each other.
I felt more accepted in a bar than in a church. You might argue that at church, they have to make sure the carpet is clean and the blinds are tilted just right. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think Jesus died for the carpet or the blinds. He died for people. Why are people being neglected?
This morning, as I sat in desperate need of a friend, a person came over and cared. He told me his wife had switched churches because she had run into some of the same issues I was running into. I don’t want to switch. I really care about the people at this church.
I have ran into the same problems through the years. I was actually involved in the choir and just before going into the auditorium to sing and something like this would happen and I would leave the church and go home. crying all the way.but I took it to the Lord. Told him how I felt. that was the church I wanted to go to so I kept going back. You know that old saying that the devil is the first person in the church and the last one to leave. Hang in there. You know the devil tries to block anything we try to do for the Lord and he does cause situations to arise so we will get hurt and give up. It helps to be overly friendly and greet each person with a smile on your face.There is a lot of questions we will never have the answer for on this earth. but if you stay in prayer he will guide you in the right road.God even tries our faith. mean while back at the bar.the devil could have been speaking to your mind saying look what you are giving up to serve God ,and see how God is allowing you to get hurt come on man this is where the action is. Stop living for God. hope I was of any help….. your friend in CHRIST, jean