After 16 years of heavy involvement and the dream of being a full time pastor I am no longer in an IC and to be honest I feel more available now than ever before.

Thank you for your words and for not criticizing the church. I’ve always felt that even though it is all messed up it still belongs to God and he will use it in this world.

Have a great day.

Ed.

I have found this to be true in experience. Before I left my business (farms) I thought I had a number of friends, but as my life slowed down I came to understand that these were acquaintances centered around the activities of my business. Once the economic opportunities ceased so did the interest in me.

I point this out, because I think the same thing usually occurs in what we call “the church.” We have acquaintances because of a common interest and activity, however, there is no depth to the relationship because it goes no farther than the common activity. This applies to small group meetings as much as the church service meetings. True, you have more time to talk to the people than the “meet and greet” time, but I find that the small group meeting itself usually defines the extent of the relationship. Some may disagree with me on this, but take this test.

Of the people whom you meet at church sponsored activities, how many have been in your home or you in theirs or how many times have you shared a meal together separate from any church sponsored activity? I suspect for most the answer will be zero? And, even if the answer is occasionally, is that cause for boasting?

However, getting back to the passage above, the Lord has given me a few that are family. He made the introductions. Two occurred in an institutional church. The others apart from any religious activity, yet from the first moment there was a deep connection that is greater than that of flesh and blood family members. Those of us who live near, constantly spend time with one another. We share our houses, our meals and our lives. Only one of them attends a church service with us, but even that would not matter. We often may not even speak to each other during the meeting, but then we may spend the afternoon together at one of our houses.

Truth is, most people today make precious little time available to spend even with the members of their own immediate family, so it should be no surprise when the relationships with others are superficial. The apostle John was plainspoken about this very matter:

1Jn 4:20-21
(20) If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
(21) And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.

We may attempt duck this by saying we do not “hate” our brother, but the test is not limited to that. It also says one who does not love his brother CANNOT love God. How can we say we love those whose company we do not desire enough even to spend time together? This test is equally demanding, whether one attends an organized church or has left. The state of our human relationships is reflective of our spiritual relationship. If we spend time with God we cannot avoid having a strong desire for fellowship with the brethren — a real, deep relationship — and when the time is right, our Father will do what He promised, a hundredfold.

You go Girl!!!!!!!!