A young man told me that he felt like he couldn't come to youth group because he was struggling with his belief and the stress and pain in his heart.
Church is the perfect place to be when you are struggling with unbelief and to take the pain to. A pew is not a stoic pedestal for perfect but rather a resting place in the middle of the battle.
Another young man and young woman came to church to do some community service as part of diversion. Before I "put kids to work" I talk to them. Three hours later, my heart was heavy but the assurance of God, His Word and His truth lifted me up! "I don't believe in God. Some person hurt me. My Grandma prays for me. I've been involved in gangs, drugs, satanism and lots of bad things."
The perfect place to be is in church and In the Bible. The Bible is not a weapon to use against people in a tirade of judgement but rather a weapon to use against lies that bind people up. This kid believed that he was worthless and that he could not be any different.
Today I looked around our tiny congregation and reflected on the burdens, pain and loss that so many had gone through this year. Precious Grandmothers, husbands and children had been lost. Children trapped in drugs or away from Christ. Struggle and pain. Church was and is the perfect place to be.
Church is not for or about perfect people but rather about a place to bring the pain and the wounded from the battle to be healed by the Greatest Physician of all times.
Pastor preached on our expectations of Jesus and who He is. To make sure that our expectations are truly Biblical and in perspective. To keep an eye on our own expectations that we have on ourselves and for others and to be real with each other.
Church is the perfect place to be for very Imperfect People!
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