The Rebel Church

I'm surprised at how many people I meet at Community Church who have had a time away from formal worship. For many of them, they had a period of sin in their lives, addiction, or some other "obvious" public sin, and they felt the judgement of church members. The end result was hurt feelings and a distaste for church.

I myself have experienced this same thing when I was an unwed pregnant teenager. In order to get married in the church, I had to appear before full council. I'm not sure what they called this meeting but I always felt as if I was confessing my sin to the elders. To this day it remains one of the hardest things I ever had to do.

I jumped through the hoops set before me in an effort to spare my parents even more shame if I didn't get married at all, or if I married at the justice of the peace. I stood in front of the long table filled with the faces of my friend's dads as they went around the table and each one got to say something to me.

I remember one of them saying, "I'm just making sure that you know what you did is a sin and God hates sin." Yes, I was already pretty aware that I had messed it all up...the disappointment on everyone's face was proof enough of that.

Just recently as I waited in line at the gas station I saw one of the elders I had to face over 20 years ago. He put his arm around my shoulders and said "how you doing Cath?". He asked about the kids and smiled warmly as I told him they were all great. Sometimes I wonder if he even remembers that day when I stood in front of council, I would guess he doesn't. Or maybe he does, and that is why this big grumpy guy takes time to say hi to me everytime I see him.

For me, what I felt as judgement by my church, sent me into a tailspin of guilt and regret. It was as if at that very moment I ceased being a chosen child of God. Even when I did attend church, I no longer believed I was part of the family of God, why would He want me as a member? That guilt then turned into blaming God for my problems and I was just done with it all...too much pain, too much guilt, it was easier to run away.

For others, as they tell their story of deep wounds inflicted by the church, the bitterness creeps back in, and in their words you can hear that there is still deep hurt.

So why do so many prodigal children end up at Community? Our pastor once called Community "the rebel church" from the pulpit. I thought, well no wonder we finally fit in here!!!!! I thank God for Community church. He has used the members of Community to heal some pretty deep scars that never would have healed if left unattended.

Whatever it is that makes Community the rebel church, I say keep up the good work. A whole lot of folks just like me end up worshiping and serving in that rebel church, Praise God!

As for me, I know of a prodigal child right now. I don't know for sure what to do or what to say, but after talking with some people who suffered deep wounds from feeling judged by their church, the Spirit has moved me to contact her. I will write her a note and tell her I'm thinking about her. Her current living situation doesn't jive with the way the Bible tells us to live. I am certain she is either feeling guilty or bitter. If God can heal my scars, He can heal hers too, and if I can be part of that, I'm going to do my best to reach her, and show her God's love.

Ted recently shared a sermon he heard on Moody radio, it was that pastor from Scotland...have you guys ever heard him? The point of his sermon was that as a church, the goal must be not to produce prodigal children. He talked about the tatooed and pierced, and the kids who don't look as if they fit in, and how so often those kids don't find acceptance at church and wind up taking a wrong path to feel accepted.

Community Church does a superb job in my opinion of loving everyone, Thank You God providing a place for the lost to feel your love, help us to be aware of those who are hurting and fill us with your love so that we can love even the sometimes unloveable. You are so good Lord.