Have you ever been in a situation where you had to "put on a face"? You don't really feel like you can be yourself. A job interview. A Christmas Dinner for your husband's job. A birthday party where you don't know anyone except the person who invited you. It could be anything.
But get this:
More and more people are feeling this way about church.
Do you?
Are you one of the many 20-30 somethings (or younger) that are discontent?
Do you feel like when you walk into a church you have to put on a face - that you have to be somebody that you aren't so that you'll "fit in"?
Do you look around and see a picture of countless "perfect, white, happy families" when your family isn't perfect? Or isn't white? or isn't necessarily happy?
When somebody asks you how you are doing, do you just say "I'm fine" because you don't think they really care about the real answer, or you don't think they can handle it?
Do you feel lost in a crowd?
Do you yearn for more?
Do you long to know real friendships, real relationships, and go deeper but don't see a way to do that within the church walls?
Do you long to be challenged - sharpened - but are only told what people think you want to hear?
Do you just long to be real?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you are not alone.
The more I talk to people, the more I hear it. Time and time again, people are discontent. They wonder if church is really for them. They are not walking away from God. But they are tempted to walk away from the church. But why?
I think it all comes down to this one thing:
They want what is real.
"If it isn't real, then I don't want anything to do with it."
How many of us can agree with that? I'm pretty sure more people have had this on their heart than have spoken.
It's not that they are saying that God isn't real. They believe in the same God that I do. They believe that every part of the Bible is true.
And that's the problem.
If we really take the Bible and try to live out the Truths within the Scriptures, then the Church would look a lot different. And when we get down to the bottom of things, those that are discontent are discontent because what they see in the church doesn't match what they are reading in God's Word.
But does that mean that we give up? Does that mean that we call it quits? Do we walk out on the church because we think it will never change?
No.
Because the truth is - if those who are discontent with the way things are - who long to be real - would do just that - be real - the Church would look a lot different.
If we long for transparency, are we being transparent?
If we long for people to be real - are we being real?
If we long for community - are we taking initiative to invite people into our lives to share life with us?
Or are we just sitting back and complaining about it - hoping that things will change, but having little hope that they ever will?
If we want the church to change, we have to change.
We can't sit back and remain silent.
I once approached my college mentor and told her that I needed accountability. I saw a need for true accountability between women. Being real. Sharing our junk. I envisioned an accountability group.
Her words: "So start one."
Her words ring so true.
Do you desire transparency? Be transparent.
Do you long for accountability? Ask for someone to hold you accountable - and hold others accountable.
Do you long for community and relationship? Then start a small group. Lead a small group. Open your home and host a small group.
Do you long for the church to do more justice ministry? Find a way to serve, get a group together (perhaps the small group from above), and do it.
The list could go on and on...
So if you are fed up - there is hope.
We serve a God that does the impossible.
He is the same God that sent His Son to die for us.
This same Son - Jesus - was the One who started the Church in the first place.
If we have become reconciled to God through the blood of Jesus, we are a part of the Church - the body of believers that calls on the Name of Christ.
And Jesus loves His Church.
We are the Bride of Christ.
Knowing that, we can have hope that God will move.
And He is.
Right now, all throughout the Church, there is revelation - and the Church is beginning to rise up.
People are no longer content with conformity. We don't want to conform into this "idea" of what church is supposed to be.
We want more.
God is moving.
Are we willing to go where God is moving us?
It's not just one person that is discontent. There is a whole stream of people.
And it's a good thing.
You know that God is moving when it isn't just one person, or one group of people.
When it's all over a city, a state, or an entire nation - when people are rising up saying that we aren't doing what we are supposed to be doing - maybe we should listen.
Maybe the Holy Spirit is calling us out.
Maybe He is calling us to step up to the plate. To bring the Church back to where He wants it to be.
So that the Church can begin to look more like it did when it first began.
Breaking bread together. Faces down flat before God, praying together. sharing life together. Sharing struggles together. serving together. Telling others about Jesus together. By the Power of the Holy Spirit, performing miracles together. Drawing others to Christ together.
Giving God Glory together.
I want to encourage those who are thinking about leaving the church.
Don't leave.
We need you.
I need you.
I need you to be real with me.
I need you to share life with me.
I need you to call me on my crap.
I need you to sharpen me.
I need you to not walk around on eggshells.
I need you to step up along-side me so that we can pray together and seek out how God wants to use this passion that is burning inside of us.
And don't forget that the world needs you.
Because if you are real - the world will see it.
And if you are real - the world just might be willing to listen.
And maybe we can share our real lives with our real-life testimonies to those who are hurting and broken.
And maybe, just maybe, the Lord will continue to add to our number daily those who are being saved.
I have faith that God wants to use this discontentment to actually unify His Church, and bring us to the place that He wants us to be. But we have to be willing to be His instruments. We have to be willing to stick around and see what He can do - by becoming the very thing that we are desiring.
All things are possible with God.
I have faith.
Do you?
