I dream of a different kind of church.
I want to gather together to worship God with friends, not strangers. I want to be able to be myself all the time. I want to drive by houses and not be able to resist the urge to stop in and say hi to dear friends. I want to share meals together and learn together. I want to go on vacation together. I want to enjoy life fully, with friends in Christ. I want Christ to be in every part of my life, transforming me and those around me. I want to see Christ in my friends and let it transform me. I want to share my needs and know they will be met. I want to hear friends’ needs and for them to know they will be met. I want to be transparent and to be surrounded by others who are transparent. I want to share my beliefs and not be ostracized or condemned because they might be different. I want to kick back and have a drink once and a while with friends in Christ without feeling like someone will judge me. I want to be myself without being judged. I want to eat curly fries with friends in Christ, be messy on my face and hands and not be afraid to kiss others and make them messy. I want to get together with my spiritual family, not strangers, every Sunday. I want the church I am part of to be so much more. I want us to be friends in Christ. Real, transparent friends reflecting Christ’s glory. I want to be part of Christ’s church.
Now it’s time to wake up from this dream and make it a reality. Let’s be the church rather than just continue pretending and doing “church”.
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This post was more thoroughly examined, due to conflict that arose from it in my local church, at Church Differently - Pickled and Parsed.
