Why I Don’t Attend Church?
I chose for the greater part of my life to attend church. I also chose to be very involved in every aspect of church life. I can say during all those years I was devoted to being the most loving person I could be. From the beginning I did not believe in the concept of HELL and that’s probably why I concentrated so much on preaching and teaching about love. I wanted more then anything to help people see the perfect God of love that I worshiped in my heart. I was also convinced that the message of pure love would get through but now as I look back I think it was more my stubborn pride that didn’t want to believe I failed.
When I finally left the church it was because I had been humbled so much by the message of a bold grace that reaches every single human being. I was forced to come to grips with the limited nature of church life. I say limited because that’s exactly what the organized church message is….LIMITED. The strings that are attached to it are so binding that true freedom is an impossibility.
The reason I don’t attend now has nothing to do with whether I would enjoy it or not. I always loved going to church. I loved singing the hymns and being a part of a group. I loved teaching and preaching and I always gave my very best every time I stood in the pulpit. Unfortunately the more the message of bold grace gets into your heart the more you fully realize your connection to all mankind. At least for me, to go to church now would make me feel disconnected. Bold grace enables me to walk into a jail and sit with the most hardened of criminals and feel at one with them because I know our oneness is not something I or they created. Of course the sad thing is I am not allowed to go to our county jail because I’m not sanctioned by a church. The message of God’s pure love pounding in my heart is not enough.
In my earlier years in the churches of Christ I was denied being an "ELDER" (that’s a big deal) because I wouldn’t say that unless your baptized God has no power to save you. All I would have had to do is comply with the basic idea that you have to do something to be OK with God. Well, I wouldn’t do it then, and I won’t do it now. I also won’t set myself up as superior to ANYONE because of what I believe or do. I have and will always teach that GOD’S PLAN DOES NOT REST IN THE HANDS OF MEN.
Where ever I go or whom ever I am with I feel connected because I know who connected us. Whether someone agrees with me or even likes me will not change this connection. I now truly feel like I am worshiping God without the constraints of time or place. It is an eternal worship that has always been and always will be.
Let me finish by saying that I have no need or desire to get people to leave the church. I had to take my own journey just as everyone else does. I had to find out for myself just as everyone else does, but for those who are at a place in their spiritual journey that the organized church is not giving them peace then I want to be that voice of one crying in the wilderness. A voice that says there is a straight path that one can not fall off of. A voice that never points to myself but rather only points to the God that has provided us with a grace so bold that most christians still can’t believe it.
I have been condemned by many. I have been called a false prophet who leads people to HELL. I am feared by some ministers as an agent of Satan himself. All of this is because of one thing……..I CLAIM THAT GOD IS PERFECT, AS IS HIS PLAN. I claim that God will not fail anyone. I claim that the life of Jesus is more powerful than the life of Adam. Because of Adam death came upon all men, but because of Jesus LIFE has come to ALL MEN.
I would like to close this post with my favorite quote that has affected me in all I do and say:
NOTHING REAL CAN BE THREATENED, NOTHING UNREAL EXISTS, AND THEREIN LIES THE PEACE OF GOD.
Peace to All!
Great post, Cliff!
I like your section about how your view of God assumes the best of him. I have been thinking along the same lines lately.
–Michael
Great post, Cliff, as usual.
“Where ever I go or whom ever I am with I feel connected because I know who connected us” (Cliff)
This is something I have also seen - that the church walls to do not contain the ‘in crowd’ - God loves all of humanity - from the prisoner to the psychologist treating him. I have noticed we cannot bind God to a small place like a church - that’s not where He resides - God is so much bigger than that. I feel this connection also - outside church walls moreso than in them.
“All I would have had to do is comply with the basic idea that you have to do something to be OK with God. Well, I wouldn’t do it then, and I won’t do it now” (Cliff)
I rarely say ‘amen’ ever - but ‘amen’ to this comment. I find in myself the same type of confidence in God that I will not bow to some structure for approval or for sanction - I know my faith in God is real and that’s what really matters. I think the church really misses the mark (aka: sin) when they try to get people to live up to some set of rules (for all) and then enforce them as if they were right from the fingertips of God (and were talking statements of faith and doctrines here - which can contain mistakes).
I am with you in the critical look at the church as a structure - since what it does is institutionalize people’s way of thinking and approaching life - I think any faith that scares people into faith does way too much to try control God and evoke emotions from people - a type of manipulation.
But the criticisms need to seek the revolution of what church is and what it can be - or should have been all along - a community of people that care (for one another - for the other). This lacks in the church on a major level and is actually the piece of the puzzle that makes any organization worth talking about - worth being talked about. The church is losing people - not because of some prophecy (which most churches might think) - but because churches stink at making people into community. It’s really heart-breaking in a way.
I know my faith in God is real and that’s what really matters (societyvs)
AMEN societyvs!!!
I appreciate all that come and share where they are on this journey. I respect each of you and value the input. There is no competition on this site, there is only the longing for understanding and acceptance of this glorious connection that God has joined us in.
Cliff thank God for His wonderful love in that was planned in your heart a love that has no end and is greater than anything.
We are all connected in God’s love and grace no matter where we are in life.
Love Dan
Hi cliff and all.The gospel of grace and peace which paul called it.Is the only goodnews that can set your heart and mind free from all guilt, and all judgement.
So that we can live life loved.As you used to say.cliff.
I know it to be true for i’m living that life.With a sure and stedfast confidence that in what christ did on that cross was truely finished as he said it was.My heart’s desire as christ’s heart’s desire is to let all creation know they are loved beyond measure by God our father forever.
Peace and joy in your believeing my friend’s.
I think this kind of gathering was a great success as well as obviously a lot of fun, with the sense of community being real simply because there was no one judging the other. Everyone was accepted just as they are which is how it should be. None there or anywhere else for that matter, are perfect or imperfect by what they do or not do. They (we) are all perfect because they (we) are all in Him and that is where perfection comes in. Wish I could have been there.