Welcome to the Bible belt! If there is anything that is known in Mississippi, it is most definitely religion. On any given day, you can find someone in a little coffee shop fervently discussing the politics of religion. And I'm going to let you in on a little secret - they are always right and their church is always THE best in the city. As far as that goes, theirs is the best in the whole country!
You would think that in an area that is so much in favor of God, we would grasp the big picture a little better. You find churches fighting over members and declaring that one church is trying to "steal" the others' members. People tend to "church hop". Let me share my point of view on "church hopping". To some it is looked at as trying to find the perfect church. To others it is seen as someone trying to find where God is wanting to use them. Either way, it is not for us to judge the reasons for someone visiting or changing churches. The way that I see it is simple - Praise God that they are IN church! And yes, I am one of the "church hoppers", not in search of the perfect church, but in a quest for where God is leading me. Besides, I already belong to THE perfect church. It's not in a building, though. It is the Body of Christ and I carry that with me wherever I go.
We need churches, though. We need instruction from Pastors who are gifted in the ability to share the Word with us. We need fellowship with other Christians so that we may form relationships and can help each other in our walk with Christ. We need challenges from our leaders within the church - challenges to go beyond the four walls, challenges to be more than just a Sunday and a Wednesday servant. We need to be in a church where we don't feel comfortable. When we feel comfortable, then it means that we are satisfied with our surroundings. We can't become complacent and no longer have the desire to do more and grow more.
For over 2 years, I was a member of a wonderful church. I can honestly say, without a doubt, that I was at the right place at the right time. I was just where I needed to be and where God wanted me to be. To this day, even after leaving the church, I still believe that the Pastor there hears God whisper in his ear. It's good to learn under a Pastor like that. My children accepted Christ as their Savior while we were members of that church. They were baptized at that church. We were inspired to become greater disciples at that church. But it was time to move. I know now that God had been trying to move us for a while. We just didn't want to see it and didn't want to accept it. We had developed dear friends there. We loved hearing the awesome choir. We felt great, both getting ready for church and after we left the service. But ignoring God's wishes can cause things to happen in your life that aren't so great. You can see things that perhaps you weren't supposed to see in the first place. Situations can arise that might not have occurred if you would have just been obedient in the first place. When God wants you to move, if you don't move, He might just do it for you. I feel that is what He did with us. So... "hopping" we have gone.
The church we are attending now has a few differences than our previous church. There is no choir...the congregation is the choir. There is worship music and it is wonderful. It's definitely different in the ambiance, but not different in the fact that it is welcoming God into His house. The Pastor hears God whisper in his ear, as well. And let me tell you one thing - when he gets started on a message, you better look out! He will step on a few toes if the need arises. I love seeing the passion that he has! This is the place that we are called to be at for this season in our journey. At this time, for us, this is where we need to be.
I've painted a great picture, I hope, of both of the churches that I care for. Just because I am not at the first church any longer does not mean that it isn't an amazing church. It is a growing church. I continue to pray for the growth of that church, not just within the walls but within the people. I look forward to seeing that church accomplish so many great things in building the Kingdom. And I continue to pray for the Pastor so that he will keep hearing the whispers of our Lord. The church we are at now is also an amazing church. It is reaching beyond the walls and making a difference in the community. It is crossing the racial barriers and showing what "created equally" is all about. I am feeling fed, once again.
In making the move, I have seen the warriors come out. I have seen not only Christ's warriors, but satan's, as well. People don't like change. And they get their feelings hurt when you decide to go to another church. Perhaps they feel threatened that you might pull some of the members away from their church. And ya know, that does happen. But the ones who are changing buildings because of God's calling are not the ones that are making this happen. We change buildings for one main reason - because that is what we felt God was leading us to do. I'm not sending out messages on Facebook or any other social networking site encouraging others to jump right up and follow us to the new venue. But what I am doing is telling you this: Listen. Hush. Be quiet. Listen to what God is telling you to do. Serve where you are being told to serve. Worship where you are being told to worship. If you think that you aren't hearing these directions from God, you are right. You aren't HEARING them. It's not because He isn't talking to you. It's because you aren't LISTENING. Don't listen when others are telling you that you simply MUST come to their church and leave the one you are at. Thank them greatly for the invitation, and go where God is leading you. But if you aren't in a church that is within four walls, then take them up on their invitation. Who knows? It might be just where God is wanting you to be. It might just be where God wants to grow you.
I'm sure I have posted this before, but I have to do so again: "It's all ice cream, just different flavors." Pastor David Hagan of Life Church said that and I just really like it. It just sort of sums it all up. It's okay that you love strawberry ice cream. I just happen to love butter pecan. But we all love ice cream!
Have a wonderfully blessed night!
