Something Was Not Right, There Had to Be More

by Michael Donahoe

I recently read an article on abuse in the church. It is sad to think that people who go to a church looking for love and acceptance, can come away being abused and treated badly. Unfortunately, abuse does happen and it is terrible.

Yet, I have come across several people who have left the church system, but not because of abuse. Even more than stories of abuse the one comment that seems to keep being said is that ‘I left because something just did not seem to be right. I felt there had to be more’.

I think this is a common feeling among those of us who have attended church for some time and have seen some things that just do not make sense. Sitting in a service once a week looking at the back of someone’s head does not make a lot of sense when in the Bible we are told when we come together each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. Sadly, that does not happen much in an organized church service. We all sit quietly listening to one person participate.

Jesus said he is building his Church from living stones, or in other words from us. Church is people. It is not a building nor an organization. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and if the Spirit of Christ lives within us, why are we just sitting letting only a few participate?

Many people are coming to the realization that the organization we know as church is flawed and not what God intended. We seem to be putting our focus on the pastor and the organization rather than emphasizing the Spirit of Christ who lives within us. We are to allow him to love others through us as we go about our daily lives. People are getting tired of just sitting along the sidelines when we can live daily with the Spirit of Christ walking with us.

The Church that God is building is a living organism, many people making up one body under the headship of Christ. The church that many attend is an organization made of brick and mortar, doctrines and denominations and led by human beings. Many good things happen in the church building, but the body of Christ is an active, living body where everyone has an equal part to play.

Rather than attend a pre-planned service once a week, we are to be living daily under the guidance of the Spirit. It is by his power from within that we can show the love of God to everyone we meet, whether in a building or living life outside the walls of religion.