tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489052885785942737.post3471310581896851176..comments2024-03-19T03:19:15.663-06:00Comments on The Real Me:: Love you just the way you are. FULL STOP!catherine jaynehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02787580426338684858noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489052885785942737.post-78028229500035988142007-10-31T11:17:00.000-06:002007-10-31T11:17:00.000-06:00I do not believe that it is the 'church' as a whol...I do not believe that it is the 'church' as a whole that teaches us to look down upon others, but our own insecurities and the select few people *of* the church that reflect that harsh judgement. It is not doctrine in any church I know, and many churches' basic beliefs are still sound with their desires to love others as God has loved us. But, with that being said, *people* do run those churches, and therefore are liable to sin in judgement upon others all too easily.<BR/><BR/>If you ask around to fellow parishoners (how the heck do you SPELL that?!) I can guarantee that you'll get the majority of responses saying that we cannot judge, we are all with sin, we don't deserve the love that God gives us and that all are welcome. Yet people still 'feel' turned away, judged and completely misunderstood. Is it from the church they feel this or from their own insecurities and doubt about the grace of Jesus Christ through reconciliation to our fellow man?<BR/>Wow ... deep.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5489052885785942737.post-6519527952163147162007-10-31T07:14:00.000-06:002007-10-31T07:14:00.000-06:00A couple months ago I had a friend who gave up on ...A couple months ago I had a friend who gave up on Christianity. Her reason is that everyone is perfect and she could never measure up. She thought if people ever found out how messed up she was they would never hang out with her.<BR/><BR/>She told me some of the stuff she is struggling with and it really wasn't that bad stuff. <BR/><BR/>I think in Christian culture we create such a facade of being perfect that it makes anyone who doesn't feel they measure up (which realistically is everyone. What I mean to say is that basically no one measures up to the standard the Christian church sets.<BR/><BR/>So people who don't measure up feel discouraged. Often (but it's fair to say often not too) those who are honest get shunned. And the facade continues.<BR/><BR/>I recognize that in the church context (or any context really) we can't air all our secrets for the world to hear. However, I wish we could communicate better that we are a community of broken people who are dealing with issues, you don't need to know what the issues are but know that we are dealing with issues. And then be a community that loves people through the issues they face.<BR/><BR/>That would look a bit like heaven to me.David Rumerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04579854017592885248noreply@blogger.com