Recently someone told me I was offended at my church. I wouldn't normally let that bother me, but it hit a nerve. I turned and said, "Just because I disagree doesn't mean that I am offended." Then I kind of did some examining of my heart. I learned a lot about myself and why it ticked me off.
A little back story:
I go to a mega church, and while it's really popular to hate on them today, I certainly don't hate my church. I see the great and the bad of such a behemoth. Recently, I found myself disagreeing with something the church is doing. It's something small but enough for me to think I didn't want to participate. Yes, I see things that make me cringe but I am a church advocate. I think it's extremely important. As someone once put it, the local church is the hope of the world. I agree.
I was talking with someone about it and they totally misunderstood what I was talking about. They assumed that I was leaving the church. Well, no. Just because you disagree with something doesn't give you the right to leave. That's how I would have known I was offended. If I have let something so trivial affect me to leave. Over the years I have not agreed with my church on occasion. I think it's healthy to not follow blindly everything a church does/says/believes. This doesn't mean I am in rebellion as someone once put it. I can simply disagree without being in rebellion. I still tithe, volunteer, and participate.
I believe that when you have crossed the line is when you let little offenses blow you off course and leave and go to another church, sit in the audience, and compare how much better you and your current church is. I think when you get to the point where you would leave, you need to examine your heart. Talk yourself off the ledge and realize it's probably best to talk to someone about this. Barring, that is, if your church is doing something wrong.... like heresy, which probably happens but not as regular as people claim.
I have seen many people leave a church because.... well there are a lot of reasons. When you boil it down, it's an offense. The sad thing, when they get comfortable in their current church they'll just get offended and move to another.
In the end, I kind of like it when I disagree with my church. At the end of the day, I either learn why I agree with my assessment or I mature. Either way I win, and in the end the Body at large wins when we invest in our churches. Abandoning the ship shows our immaturity.
Churches aren't perfect. To think they are is to fool one's self.
A little back story:
I go to a mega church, and while it's really popular to hate on them today, I certainly don't hate my church. I see the great and the bad of such a behemoth. Recently, I found myself disagreeing with something the church is doing. It's something small but enough for me to think I didn't want to participate. Yes, I see things that make me cringe but I am a church advocate. I think it's extremely important. As someone once put it, the local church is the hope of the world. I agree.
I was talking with someone about it and they totally misunderstood what I was talking about. They assumed that I was leaving the church. Well, no. Just because you disagree with something doesn't give you the right to leave. That's how I would have known I was offended. If I have let something so trivial affect me to leave. Over the years I have not agreed with my church on occasion. I think it's healthy to not follow blindly everything a church does/says/believes. This doesn't mean I am in rebellion as someone once put it. I can simply disagree without being in rebellion. I still tithe, volunteer, and participate.
I believe that when you have crossed the line is when you let little offenses blow you off course and leave and go to another church, sit in the audience, and compare how much better you and your current church is. I think when you get to the point where you would leave, you need to examine your heart. Talk yourself off the ledge and realize it's probably best to talk to someone about this. Barring, that is, if your church is doing something wrong.... like heresy, which probably happens but not as regular as people claim.
I have seen many people leave a church because.... well there are a lot of reasons. When you boil it down, it's an offense. The sad thing, when they get comfortable in their current church they'll just get offended and move to another.
In the end, I kind of like it when I disagree with my church. At the end of the day, I either learn why I agree with my assessment or I mature. Either way I win, and in the end the Body at large wins when we invest in our churches. Abandoning the ship shows our immaturity.
Churches aren't perfect. To think they are is to fool one's self.
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