“I won’t go to church; against my beliefs.” “What about all these churches with scillions of dollar buildings and people are hungry?” “Church people are such hypocrits.”
If there’s anybody that has disliked the “religion” of life a ton, it has been me. I’ve just never liked the political skyclimbing, the bureaucratic fakery, and the less than real preachers I’ve mostly seen. I’ve been a pastor for almost 20 years and have had many great victories, but many failures along the way. Personally, I’ve been bored at most churches. One thing I haven’t had is any patience with inauthenticity and posturing. I found more real people on my Russell Hall floor at The University of Georgia who were drunk most weekends, than I have found in churches. Seriously! They never tried to act like they were something they were not, they never found it hard to tell the truth (good or bad stuff), and they never went behind a friend’s back.
What I would say to you that have the above excuses, don’t! Believe it or not, you need to keep looking for a community of authentic people who are pursuing the plan that God has for them. God does have this big plan for you whether you believe that or not. These communities are out there and we’re doing our part to try and create, yet another one, right here in the Ringgold, GA-Chattanooga, TN area. Just so we understand: everybody is a hypocrit! Can’t get around it because there are no perfect people. We just naturally lean toward doing the wrong.
We’re all at a different season of life…..embrace where you are, accept others where they are, BUT, reach higher because there’s more for you! Trust me, you will find in your path one day, a REAL Christian, who really cares about you as a person, whether or not you ever embrace Christ. When you do, run toward them and take their advice. You may not meet another one!
