Someone once told me, “I’ll never step foot in a church. Apart from you, they are nothing but fakes!”
Partially complimented, partially disheartened, my response was swift. “When was the last time that you were in one?”
Well, that wasn’t the response they were wanting or looking for because an immediate defense started. “I was confirmed when I was a kid.” “I went growing up and saw all I needed to see.” “I don’t need church to believe in God!”
I tried in a loving way to explain about the relationship with Christ. The typical John 3:16 go to. My heart grieved because they just didn’t understand.
No, you don’t need to go to church, but the Bible does say in Hebrews 10:25 to not forsake the gathering together as believers. It continues on…
“but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
Hebrews 10:25 NLT
But here is the main issue with my friend that hit me after the conversation was over. They were basing church on people. And people are flawed.
Don’t base your church experience on people, but on God. People will fail you, Jesus never will.
If you go into a church building thinking that people there are perfect and will never hurt you or do wrong, you are in for a rude awakening. Because people fail. And they will continue to fail. You can’t go into a church building believing that those people are sinless just because their sins are forgiven.
When you do get into the right church, meaning the one that you are called to, you’ll find yourself looking at others as those God loves, like you. Forgiven, but not flawless. You’ll find that we all need each other to encourage and lift up. Words of encouragement and life-giving, but also challenging and convicting. Helping you to become the person that Christ has called you to be.
Most importantly, start reading the Bible for yourself. Grow in that relationship with Him. That what He truly desires!
Use church for helping to grow and edify, but seek Him for yourself!
“You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.”
Hebrews 5:12-14 NLT
Let us grow in the Word. No longer infants, but getting strong in the meat of the Word!
I did say one thing after our conversation with my friend and in times since then.
“I will never stop asking and inviting you.”
Which they said, “I know you won’t and I don’t expect you to stop.”
It has been months since that conversation and since that time I have asked and the answer has changed. From a never to a someday.
Never stop asking. Never stop shining your light. Never stop being who God has called you to be. Because the answer may change someday.
angelaschmeling 
One response to “People fail, God doesn’t”
There are so many that feel & comment that way , that the “church is just full of hypocrites “……..what a needed message for today, that I wish everyone could read ❣️
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