Can we get back to the original topic?! Because this is something that really interests me, and I was going to start a thread on this if some one else hadnt. One of the most spiritual women I know, and sort of a mentor for me has been this lady, Linda. She is a beautiful woman, inside and out. And I strive to have her wisdom and strength. Anyway she confided in me one day that she stopped going to church because people bring her down when she goes. She felt like the people who went were all about themselves, not worshipping God, which should be the real reason we go to church. She felt, like you said in this post, persecuted by her own body of believers. They would look down on her, when she is probably the best example of Christ i have met. She truly lives her life to the fullest, and all for Him. So she stopped going to church. She does more good EVERY day than those people do on sundays. She still supports churches (helping this one BIG church in Houston raise millions of dollars). She supports the ideas of churches, but she does not attend one herself.
Well she told me all of this a year ago. And i could kind of relate. Our town is not only conservative, but narrowminded. People judge, look down on. And if you miss a sunday, they are like "well where have YOU been??" in condescending tones. I put up with this, because i knew going to church was important, and i did like hearing the lessons and seeing my real friends there.
Well now i have moved to college. And i am now a senior. People have come and go since i have been there (typicalfor a college class). But this one girl who was one of the first people i became friends with when i started going to church there, she has changed. I mean she is just MEAN-spirited. Out to cut people down. Before, when we were friends, she was a little "harsh" I have had friends in the past like that. But i got that impression. Well then she began dating a frat boy. and everything changed. She acted too good for everyone. And she has NO reason to. I actually overheard her go up to our class "parents" and say, :"I really need you to pray for me because people at work say that i am mean." I thought this was rather humorous, its like oh you finally realized that? Anyway she has said some out right MEAN hearted things to me. And this was at my BIRTHDAY party . I said to one of my friends, Mark my words, i am not inviting her OR her boyfrend to anything like this again. The best way to explain them is, when everyone is laughing or having a good time, they are so miserable themselves that they have to ruin it and say something rude and comepletely goes against from what we are taught as Christians.
These are just 2 people that make me feel this way. I have more enemies than friends in that class. It hurts, and i hate my life right now BECAUSE OF THEM. Church should be about uplifting people, encouraging each other. etc. I seriously dont want to go anymore. I am feeling how Linda my mentor and friend feels. Going to church for them is all about making THEMSELVES feel better, andto me they all seem REALLY INSECURE if they have to bash other people to make themselves feel better. Me and one of my best friends have already gone to look for other churches. But in a month or two we are going again. If i dont feel differently about going to church, i may just take the appproach Linda my friend has. I can probably do Gods will more everyday, in my classes and in the real world, than i can by going to church.
So sad that its come to that.
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