Detox Continues
If I have learned one thing from being away from the church, it is that I am not alone. So many people have worn my shoes or are in my shoes right now. Though, I am worried for the people not here yet. Everyone will be burnt eventually. Seriously.
People. We need them to survive. But people WILL ultimately fail us.
I have failed so many people.
Detoxing from church has not meant cleansing myself from people. I am detoxing from the system. Though some people have taken my detoxing very personal. I guess it does become personal if you only know and live in the system. The system changes people. I have seen it happen right in front of my eyes. It has ruined good volunteers with paychecks. It has stripped people of their energy for Christ's sake. It has demanded the ridiculous...all because of the system.
People. People are not enough. We do need each other. But we also need much more.
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God,
I really don't understand you. You love me no matter what. It is amazing to know you are with me and for me within this detox. You know I am leaving a system ruined by men. Good men who are too smart for their own good. I seek you. God, you are my focus, my everything. Thank you for my unique life. You have provided a roof over my head, food on the table and an amazing wife. You amaze me everyday. Sorry if I have failed you. But I know you, and only you continue loving beyond circumstance. My life is yours. Take it.
Josh
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Church Detox Step 3
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
One month out of church and I am only at Church Detox Step 3. This is more serious than I thought.
People. We need them to survive. But people WILL ultimately fail us.
I have failed so many people.
Detoxing from church has not meant cleansing myself from people. I am detoxing from the system. Though some people have taken my detoxing very personal. I guess it does become personal if you only know and live in the system. The system changes people. I have seen it happen right in front of my eyes. It has ruined good volunteers with paychecks. It has stripped people of their energy for Christ's sake. It has demanded the ridiculous...all because of the system.
People. People are not enough. We do need each other. But we also need much more.
--------------------
God,
I really don't understand you. You love me no matter what. It is amazing to know you are with me and for me within this detox. You know I am leaving a system ruined by men. Good men who are too smart for their own good. I seek you. God, you are my focus, my everything. Thank you for my unique life. You have provided a roof over my head, food on the table and an amazing wife. You amaze me everyday. Sorry if I have failed you. But I know you, and only you continue loving beyond circumstance. My life is yours. Take it.
Josh
------------------
Church Detox Step 3
Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
One month out of church and I am only at Church Detox Step 3. This is more serious than I thought.
posted by Joshua Sager at
8:42 PM
7 Comments:
Josh, I only wish you the best as you continue your detox. I hope yours will be in time to prevent you from having any permanent bitterness from the church.
er, I meant toward the church.
All I can say is, "Wow!"
yeah Josh, I'm still dealing with all the repurcussions of leaving the organized church, in terms of how it effects me and relationships I have with people still in the "system."
It's a long process, and I don't know what the ending even looks like, or where it is!
Hey, Josh. Just listened to this week's podcast. I totally agree with what you were saying about a pastor having four or five ppl around himself that he's pouring his life into, and concentrating on ppl. Didn't you find that impossible in the context of ministry though? The "ppl in charge" don't see that as enough, in my experience. I wish more than anything I could be in ministry, but that's just why I cant. anyway, just thinking out loud. Good comments bro. Got me thinking.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
Hello all:
The church I've currently attended for over the last five years has decided to close on Christmas day (2005). Nice timing eh?
This really angers me and my reasons are as follow (I didn't vote to close by the way):
This is the second Christian church I've attended in 30 years and this one has died the same way as the last one I attended. The reason both died I believe was that the leaders (elders) didn't listen to the people concerns when they expressed them. The leaders (elders) became frustrated when the people wouldn't follow and both the elders and over 50% of the congregation became tired and voted to close.
I think that perhaps many churches bodies need to detoxify themselves of bad elders or leaders for the benefit of the people who attend and care about the work of the church . Not to do so will doom the local church body to ultimate failure, as I have experienced.
This is the second sickening time I've been forced to endure this B.S. I left wondering what these stupid church people would do if they faced real persecution and faced death for their beliefs, I think being tired would be the least of your worries.
To all you deaf church leaders out there, if you realize that church attendance is optional and we don't need it for our salvation or even our personal growth in Christ why do you wonder in amazement when people leave and no one wants to follow? Church is not to be S&M experience. It supposed to build up the body not tear it down, or ignore the people you were put in charge to take care of. I wish I was in authority in both cases, I believe I may have been able to turn things around. I now feel like I've been holed up with a bunch of "Stupid Loser church people" when they quit like this.
I pray that God will give me the grace to go forward and to not let this screw up my life with bitterness and anger once again like it did last time..
Dan Hergott
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