I once had someone tell me that going to a new church is like being in a stranger's living room on Christmas day - you can't help but feel like an interloper. For me, I just don't believe good fruit can come out of the American Church anymore. As much as any pastor may try (and I tried HARD) an American Church community that meets inside four walls at least once per week, cannot seem to bear a nat harvest of good fruit. We've all been so groomed under these old manmade "mandates" - that have almost nothing to do with the story of Jesus in the New Testament, but are sociological premises - we can't seem to ever get out of them.
I've found that I can actually have better connection to heavenly goodness and wisdom and love when I am NOT in a church building with church people. I do miss community. In America, we SUCK at community - as my Brit ex-pat friends always told me - but I guess I also found out that very few in my community really were in my community when I no longer agreed with the corporate narrative.
So beautiful Ray -- sometimes God has to get clear and very obvious. Thanks for sharing and letting God use you to guide others. Blessings.
Wow. I would sure listen to that voice Ray!
Indeed! (I did)
I once had someone tell me that going to a new church is like being in a stranger's living room on Christmas day - you can't help but feel like an interloper. For me, I just don't believe good fruit can come out of the American Church anymore. As much as any pastor may try (and I tried HARD) an American Church community that meets inside four walls at least once per week, cannot seem to bear a nat harvest of good fruit. We've all been so groomed under these old manmade "mandates" - that have almost nothing to do with the story of Jesus in the New Testament, but are sociological premises - we can't seem to ever get out of them.
I've found that I can actually have better connection to heavenly goodness and wisdom and love when I am NOT in a church building with church people. I do miss community. In America, we SUCK at community - as my Brit ex-pat friends always told me - but I guess I also found out that very few in my community really were in my community when I no longer agreed with the corporate narrative.
I appreciate your post, sharing my reflections.
Thanks - I really appreciate this thoughtful response.
:-) Hilarious! And . . . AMEN!
So say we all. 😁
"Lord give me a sign!" Ok, here you go!