ON CHURCH AS AN INSTITUTION -glenn kaiser 12/10/23
There is a real and true thing about any local or larger (denomination or association or fellowship of) church where people rightly or wrongly feel like little un-cared for cogs in a huge wheel that isn't spinning as they'd like.
Some form of corporate model is often subscribed to and can indeed mean relationships take a back seat to "sales", numbers of people, haves vs. have-nots and so on. Understood.
Meanwhile I would ask if you have considered that forms don't listen to you, hug you, laugh or cry with you NO MATTER THE FORM. I'm not saying forms and this vs. that structure cannot enhance or conversely mess us up because either can and does happen, rather that any association of humans is fraught with risk, dissapointment and sometimes surprising grace and kindness.
Sadly, like marriages, families, day job associations of any type, the wheels can come off, feelings get hurt, people feel (and are) neglected and so give up on relationships.
Then too, wherever you go there you are. ANY relationship is a two-way street and that means not only the other/s but you yourself are involved with strengths, weaknesses, love or disdain, forgiveness or lack of it. Yup.
Admittedly some groups, forms and places are more to our liking, comfort zone and seem to us (rightly or not) nurturing while others do not. Got that! And yet and still I suggest to you often we are our worst enemy. The "institution" of self has given me far more fits and misery in my lifetime (70 years as I write) than ANY other person or group of them regardless of the form or style.
What, rather Whom I have found consistent and gracious in relationship is Jesus, nobody else can BE Him and nobody perfectly represents Him.
Do you- my sister and brother in Christ? I certainly do not!!
When we are tempted to blast others it may be helpful to remember these points.
The commands of Christ include loving, forgiving, thinking the best of others. We do not have to pretend all is well with everyone or even continually associate with them to love them in in that/His Spirit pray for God's grace in their life!
I suggest if you cannot do so you may have constructed an institution of one. How is that blessing others? How's it working out for you?
I believe these are things worth considering.
As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn
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