In many of today’s Christian churches we have no need to look very far to find an abundance of segregation! No, I’m not talking about the black and white segregation, although I still hear some of that behind cupped hands. I’ve heard words like: it wouldn’t happen in MY church, I’m not against gays but, I really feel our church should not put up with THAT kind of people! Yes if you listen occasionally you’ll still hear words like that even in MY church or YOUR church. In those instances I sincerely hope you are only a listener and never a repeater. Those really aren’t the types of segregation that I planned to talk about in this blog.
The segregation I planned to talk about is none of the above. This is about how differently those that have a lot and those that have almost nothing are looked upon in most churches. I’m sure in most churches they try to help those in need, but quite often that need is misinterpreted. Many pastors will tell the members of their congregation that if anyone has problems or needs to come to them for help. After receiving a few dollars, some clothing, or some food many churches will feel that they have done their part. Actually they have just put a band-aid on the hurt, that hurt is still there it’s just harder to see. If we just treat the symptom and don’t treat the cause that symptom will just keep coming back. Some deep hurts take months or years to heal, that would require many band-aids.
Just recently I heard this from a minister; “People can’t expect me to care more for them than they care for themselves.” I feel that man had a valid point. It is impossible to help a person that is unwilling to help themself.
Often after that token help you’ll find that same pastor and family “buttering up” to the families who week after week put the most in the collection plate. In some churches occasionally the ones that are in the most need are denied the sacrament because they are told “they’re not worthy”. I ask My Friend about that and He told me that everyone is worthy to take the sacrament; that it was a tool of faith. Could you see Jesus telling any of those at the Last Supper that they were unworthy?
Years ago as I sat in a church, I had the pastor point a finger at me, then he called me by name and then he told me if I didn’t change my ways I was going to Hell. I was sitting in the midst of the congregation with no way out, I was a teenager at the time and I considered dropping to my hands and knees and crawling out. I stayed until that service was over and as I walked out through that church door that Sunday, I knew I was not headed for Hell, I was headed for a new church!
My own Christian belief is somewhat different than a lot of church teachings. I believe you are the church, I am the church. Then, what is that building we go to on Sunday? That’s where we go to fellowship and possibly learn a few things about the Bible. But, to me the fellowshipping and the exchanging of many hugs with my friends and the friends I’ve yet to meet is the highlight of my week.
Next to the fellowshipping, to me, it is the music ministry. On many Sundays I find the music touches my heart as much as or more than the pastoral message from the pulpit. As the music opens my heart there have been many times my Father in Heaven has told me of his needs or the needs of others around me. A thought just touched me; the music is always harmony, what better place could My Friend choose to put a message in my heart.
I’m not sitting there every Sunday to have my pastor trying to scare Hell out of me. I’m not there to have the pastor judge me. I’m there to receive love from my friends and to try to return some of that love. I’m there to feel good about myself when I walk out.
On some special days I feel a message, sent directly to me, but coming through the pastor’s lips but most often I find that My Friend speaks directly to me.
That building we walk into on Sunday should be a place for fellowshipping and love. It should be a place of healing. It should be a place to recharge our inner spirit to prepare us for the coming week. It should never be a place for negative thoughts. It should be the place for hugs. For with that hug each will walk out that day carrying just a little love from the other person’s heart.
The Christian religion should never be a religion of segregation of any type. No Christian should ever let the sign of the dollar blind them from the sign of the cross. We can’t allow our church to direct all of its efforts to those who are already there and not bothering with those still searching. If you find your church taking the easy way by concentrating on us and not bothering with the others that’s not the Christian way, it’s just another form of segregation. It’s not God’s way!
We have to remember blame is a two-way street. We, you and me, have to accept some of the blame for the direction our churches are heading. We get out only what we put in, and to get anything out of it at all, WE have to put ourselves out there.
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