A Need to Belong

I recently signed up to be a sales representative for a popular makeup company. I paid the registration fee and was given a truck-load of brochures to begin my campaign. My confidence has soared as I have collected sales and pondered on the extra income that is sure to come in. There is only one problem. My online account has not been activated. For some unknown reason, we have been unable to get me signed into the database. Without this critical aspect, I am a representative without a place do a business. My restlessness grows because I feel largely incomplete. Without a direct line to the corporation and an account with my name on it, all the sales I have accumulated will not matter and my time spent will have been useless. Have you ever felt that incomplete sense of needing to belong?

Someone once asked me, “Why do I need to go to church if I already believe in God? Why does anyone need church?” I have noticed that having a church is a lot like having a central database. I can wear a cross around my neck and do all the things that good Christians do. I can read my Bible for hours and quote scripture perfectly by chapter and verse. (I haven’t actually gotten this far yet, but I’m trying!) Yet, without a home base, a place to gather and be accounted for, I am nothing more than a representative without a place to do business. Much like selling the merchandise in my catalogs, going to church makes me feel useful. I have a job to do. I am productive and people are in need of my services. My fellow brothers and sisters are so valuable to me! They give me purpose, incentive to keep doing what I am good at, and encouragement when I feel insignificant. I have also noticed that in the process of getting out and selling my wares I am more focused on those around me. Suddenly I am more interested in the needs of others and am looking for ways to add a little something more to their life. A central meeting place is vital to my well being. Not only am I using the gifts that God gave me, I am fulfilling a command straight out of scripture.

When Paul was speaking to the Hebrews, this issue must have been pressing, even back then. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Meeting together on a regular basis is good for our souls. As a corporate body, we are bound to each other like a marriage. We can lift each other up, spur on another on toward greatness, and hold each other up when we don’t have the strength to stand on our own. For many of us, our church may be the only real family we’ll ever have. Broken homes seem to be more the rule rather than the exception in today’s society. Fifty years ago, it was unheard of take a relative to court. Today it happens all the time. People are unscrupulous in their dealings and seem to have no regard for morals, even within their own families. The one thing I have noticed about being rooted in a church is that it is a place that is safe, free from judgment and ridicule, and very, very forgiving.

Of course like any family, the church is not without its share of freaks and weirdos. Dishonesty is no respecter of race, religion, size, shape, or building. Like visiting the girlfriend’s relatives for the first time, one may wonder what kind of whacked out, nutcase mess they’ve stumbled upon. The plain truth is that sometimes we all have to sort through a few rotten apples before we find the good, tasty fruit hidden beneath. It may take a while but the right family is out there.

So what are some things to look for if you are seeking to find a good church? According to a Dr. Richard Krejcir, there are twelve key characteristics of a healthy church. Here are just a few of them. First and foremost, you need to find a church that preaches the full Gospel of Christ. Watered down or compromised will not cut it. A good church preaches the truth, plain and simple. If you happen to be unsure of whether they are preaching sound doctrine or not, bring your Bible. If they are reading straight from the text and the preacher’s words line up with the scripture read, all is well. Another thing to look for is powerful, impacting worship. Worship does not have to be an elaborate setup. As long as it comes from the heart and stirs the spirit within, it qualifies. The word that comes to my mind is passion. If the worship team or the music itself is full of passion, that is a good sign.

Speaking of passion, a church that is passionate for Jesus is another characteristic of health and wholeness. Look for a place that genuinely loves the Lord and spreads that love to its members, its visitors, and to its Creator. Love, joy, peace, and all the rest of the fruits of the Spirit must be present in order to signify a healthy church. Prayer and discipleship are also important. The old cliché still rings true. A church that prays together stays together. A healthy prayer life, a thriving discipleship program, and good, strong leadership are all signs of a healthy and vibrant church. To read the complete article by Dr. Krejcir, click here.

Looking for a church home can be a daunting task, especially if one has been severely wounded in the past. The idea of setting foot inside a place that may or may not welcome you or accept you can be unnerving to say the least. The thing to remember is that God loved you first. If you are honestly seeking after Him, He will reward you for your efforts. He will guide you to the place that is right for you. Never give up in your searching, always believe that He has your best interests at heart, and know that His love covers over a multitude of sins. He is waiting to receive you. Are you ready for Him?

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Worthy of His Work

Have you ever had one of those weeks where things just did not go the way they were supposed to? Everything went wrong. The car died. The kids drove your insanity level to new heights, and at every challenge, you failed the test. Instead of responding in kindness, you snapped. Instead of trying to teach obedience, you yelled. Instead of trusting God, you worried. That was me last week. If I had been accused of being a Christian, a conviction would be unheard of. The jury would have thrown my case out. I would have been labeled a nut-case but nothing more. By the end of the week I was exhausted, defeated, and bordering on depressed. I felt like a complete failure and not worthy of the speck of sand on my Father’s shoes.

That’s why I found my devotional from Beth Moore so refreshing and timely this morning. Beth has coined a phrase that I’m going to adopt. She says that when she dies, she wants her tombstone to read, “God got tired.” Thank you so much, Beth. I’m glad to see that I am not the only person on earth who is high maintenance. If Beth Moore struggles, that means there’s hope for me. As it turns out, there’s more than hope. There are unfathomable promises for me any time I start to wonder or worry if I’m going to make it.

I shared my sentiments on the last few days with my pastor’s wife. Here’s what she had to say…

“You need to remember that there is a big difference between conviction and the enemy making you feel defeated. The Holy Spirit convicts and the enemy will sometimes try to mess around with us to make us feel defeated and hopeless. In Christ, you are an overcomer and yes there is always hope for us all thanks to His grace and mercy…We recognize our mistakes and grow from them. That is part of the sanctification process…”

As I ruminated on what she said I began to wonder. What exactly does God say about me? Who am I, really? For anyone else who might be wondering, I’ve got just a few of the answers.

I am royalty. I am chosen, holy, and special and filled with his light. (1 Peter 2:9)
I am his adopted daughter and deeply loved. (Romans 8:17)
I am more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)
I am a friend of Jesus. (John 15:15)
I am a new creature in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
I am redeemed and forgiven by the grace of Christ. (Ephesians 1:7)
I am blessed. (Ephesians 1:3)
I am God’s beautiful work of art, created to bless others with my talents and abilities. (Ephesians 2:10) *This one is my favorite!*
I am engraved on his heart and on his hands. (Isaiah 49:16)

I have also concluded that I am worthy the work that He puts into me. As much trouble as I seem to be to God, He never gets tired of molding and shaping me into the creature that He created me to be. The way I figure it, I must be pretty dang important, or He wouldn’t spend this much time perfecting me. As He reminded me this morning, what I do does not dictate who I am. I messed up. This does not make me a lost cause or an immediate defect that deserves to be tossed in the garbage. It makes me human and prone to imperfections, mistakes, and weaknesses.

There will be challenging days or weeks where we fail or miss the mark. I think we’re being called to remember that it’s not over until He says it is. Every day is a new opportunity to grow and learn from the previous day’s mistakes. Every day is a new chance to remember who we are for real in Christ. We are worthy of His time and all the endless hours of work He puts into us. In that sense, I don’t mind being high maintenance. After all, I am a work in progress!

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