- Sep 13, 2005
- 894
- 49
- Gender
- Female
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Democrat
I am depressed, I can't get a job, I have no money, and everything in my life has been dumping on me for more than a year. Even though everybody tells me that God is going to help me through my troubles, nothing positive has come into my life in months. A few weeks ago I was at one of the lowest points in my life, and I needed prayer.
When the pastor called for invitation I came up and stood to the front pew and waited... and waited... and waited. The pastor never invited me to come to him. After service, I was trying to get out of church without breaking down into a sobbing mess, when they pastor walked by and said, "I wasn't sure if you wanted prayer or..."
Of course, that would be why I came forward, but I didn't say that I turned to him, "I'm just at the end of my rope and..." I half sobbed.
"That's unfortunate, I'll be praying for you." He patted me on the back and walked off.
I would like to say that is the only time I have been brushed off like that, but unfortunately I've had it happen quite a few times. The leaders of the church I went to a few years ago acted like that. Even though they only had about 20 people to minister to, they were more concerned about where the church office should be and when the city picked up the trash. I know, I was their secretary.
Look, I know that a lot of pastors and leaders out there have a lot on their table, organizing VBS, setting up Sunday Service, and tip-toeing around all the political intrigue on the Church Council. I don't expect people to hold my hand through every tremble and trial I go through. But, seriously, if a person looks to be on the edge of tears and says they're at the end of their rope, is it too much to ask for five minutes of prayer? Maybe even a little comfort?
It just makes me wonder, if the the service and events are the most important thing to the church leadership, why am I going to church? What kind of church society are we cultivating when we put so much effort into bringing people into the church, but ignore the pain of those who are already there? What is the point of having a perfect service, when the people being ministered to go home just as devastated as when they arrived?
Really, I don't need answers to these questions, but I do think people need to ask them. You can only answer for yourself, and you can ask your leaders to ask themselves these kind of questions. Do you really think people come to church because VBS was just that awesome? Or do you think, maybe, they've run into an insurmountable wall in their life and they need somebody to say "It's going to be okay."
When the pastor called for invitation I came up and stood to the front pew and waited... and waited... and waited. The pastor never invited me to come to him. After service, I was trying to get out of church without breaking down into a sobbing mess, when they pastor walked by and said, "I wasn't sure if you wanted prayer or..."
Of course, that would be why I came forward, but I didn't say that I turned to him, "I'm just at the end of my rope and..." I half sobbed.
"That's unfortunate, I'll be praying for you." He patted me on the back and walked off.
I would like to say that is the only time I have been brushed off like that, but unfortunately I've had it happen quite a few times. The leaders of the church I went to a few years ago acted like that. Even though they only had about 20 people to minister to, they were more concerned about where the church office should be and when the city picked up the trash. I know, I was their secretary.
Look, I know that a lot of pastors and leaders out there have a lot on their table, organizing VBS, setting up Sunday Service, and tip-toeing around all the political intrigue on the Church Council. I don't expect people to hold my hand through every tremble and trial I go through. But, seriously, if a person looks to be on the edge of tears and says they're at the end of their rope, is it too much to ask for five minutes of prayer? Maybe even a little comfort?
It just makes me wonder, if the the service and events are the most important thing to the church leadership, why am I going to church? What kind of church society are we cultivating when we put so much effort into bringing people into the church, but ignore the pain of those who are already there? What is the point of having a perfect service, when the people being ministered to go home just as devastated as when they arrived?
Really, I don't need answers to these questions, but I do think people need to ask them. You can only answer for yourself, and you can ask your leaders to ask themselves these kind of questions. Do you really think people come to church because VBS was just that awesome? Or do you think, maybe, they've run into an insurmountable wall in their life and they need somebody to say "It's going to be okay."