I never want to be one of those people who passive aggressively, or even openly, shames past church communities in airing their faults and broken moments- painting them in a frozen state of disrepair and being an unneccessary stumbling block of offense for those reading on social media.
I love the Church. I love Gods collection of followers. I love all the churches i've been blessed to learn from. His Bride is so beautiful. And being beautified (realistically, formed of messed up people on journeys of healing & restoration.)
So, in light of that, I wanted to pick out a moment from a community I was part of for a bit, (keeping them anonymous in an attempt to honour their dignity & hoping it relays the love I feel for them!)
Excellence.
Excellence is something I've been hearing a lot about in the christian circles I walk in at the moment.
By excellence, people who use the phrase are conveying the desire to do things really well, not sloppily or half-baked. Often in musical praise contexts, this has to do with the music being played musically well, not out of tune, but with skill, (as well as good sound equipment, set up and organisation being factored in too.) I agree with this, as far as the bible says to ['Worship the Lord God with all your mind, soul, body, spirit & strength'] meaning, to do everything well as an expression of worship.
I was part of a community for a season; a group who were so passionate about people, putting on many social events and connected with some incredible local charities. A large part of their talks were on inclusivity of others, diversity and community, things which are super important. I remember feeling so welcomed when, even after only visiting once, people remembered my name! :)
Sadly though, I noticed so much celebration of each other and talk about leisurely pursuits, but not so much a desire talk about Jesus Himself. Maybe not strange for non-church going communities, but for a christian community, that's kind of weird.
The community, as far as my experience of it, were so passionate about doing community excellently, as well as big events done with efficiency (which they definitely did, and have such a strength in!) But it saddens me when excellence is actually a mask for the idolatry of others. And that's how I saw it.
I think there's an extent to how we can find out what our gods or idols are, what we worship, by what we enjoy talking about and are passionate about, (or what we sow our money into of course). I love to talk about Jesus. But i'm pretty aware I don't have it all together, and my walk with God is in refinement still. I also love music. Growing up in music, training everyday from 5yrs old at least, being a musician was such a centric thing to me, so it was a HUGE breakthrough when I realized at church one day that really, my identity is not as a musician. I'm not a musician in my being. I'm a child of God.
I also love people. I love spending time with people. But when I pursue time with others more to gain intimacy, validation and affirmation, rather than God (who happens to be the perfection of Love) then that reveals an issue of idolatry and lack of trust. Which is what I guess i've been learning myself, as well as realizing that's been a sad issue in that christian community i spent time amongst. And I want to see that change.
LUKE 10:27
"He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
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