Addressing the Church Issue

"Ohhhh... so you went to your OLD church today. Whyyy?

So at first I REALLY didn't want to say anything yet, but after all the questions, side comments, and shade being thrown at me, I'll go ahead and address it. If you like, print it out and go show everybody.

The CHURCH sometimes has a tendency to depict a false image of perfection. As if every legitimate follower of Christ is guaranteed a perfect life. An existence completely devoid of trials, tribulations, sickness, or any other adverse condition. "It is not the will of God for your life," has in essence become equal to, "Pray harder, let us lay your hands on you, and claim the will of God for your life. Its already settled in heaven. If it hasn't manifested yet, you must not have enough faith."

And so we don't realize that we are slowly poisoning those in our congregation who are already suffering the most. We try to console them with the lie that God will never give us more than we can bear. Then people begin to suffer under the weight and question their own faith. "Why hasn't my healing come to pass yet? Why am I still stuck in this situation? Pastor said we should claim these things until manifest right now, but I don't see them yet." Between one's own doubt, and the attitudes of the congregation members and ministers, we are imposing a "damaged goods" mentality upon those who have been suffering for some time.

I'm not saying this as speculation. I'm saying this from experience.

It is honestly gotten to the point where I am extremely uncomfortable in church. Of all places in the WORLD, you would think that the house of the Lord would be a safe haven. But it isn't for me anymore, because I no longer fit the image of what a Christian should look like. Christians can't walk with walkers, or use hand braces, or have disabilities, because "by His stripes we were healed". Christians can't suffer from depression because "in His presence there is the fullness of joy." Christian bodies cannot malfunction because "we were fearfully and wonderfully made". Though Christ tests us to refine us and build our endurance; though He comforts us in times of sorrow so that we can comfort others; and though our mortal bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, Christians are not supposed to look like I do. Christians are not supposed to suffer like I do. Christians are not supposed to be sick for their entire lives. It doesn't bode well with the image of beauty and perfection at the church wants to portray to the world. Soooo...

Push her away. Ostracize her. Shove her in a corner until its time to pray. Don't let her get up in front of the church and sing, because we don't want people thinking it's okay for children of God should be broken. Keep that Walker is far away as possible at all times. Don't speak to her like a person, speak to her as if she IS the sickness. "You know you're not supposed to be using that THING." "The sickness is not of God- it needs to hurry up and pack out already." "Are you STILL in pain?" "No, don't admit you're suffering, just say it is well with my soul." Need I continue?

Now I love my churches, & I love my church families. But I'm tired. I'm tired of dreading having my hand or knee braces be seen. I'm tired of being watched like a hawk when I'm trying to get around with the walker. I'm tired of the comments and the false prophecies. "God revealed to me that your legs will be healed in 10 days." Okayyyy... but what about the rest of my body? I'm tired of the double standards. If the procedures & the medications are helping, we praise God. If things aren't going well, then all of a sudden we don't listen to what the doctors say. They say we should pray with specificity but there's not a single person in any of my church families who can name every syndrome I'm battling- because they don't wanna hear it. I got to the point where I was so tired of feeling like I'll have no worth or merit in the church until I'm better that I was going to just stop going for a while. And I'm still praying about it. But God led me back to my old church today...

Its almost sad to say that it was the happiest Sunday I have had in years now. I have honestly forgotten what it feels like to go into the house of God and feel normal. Nobody was attacking me and condemning my face because I'm stuck in this walker. Nobody hid me or pushed me aside because I don't YET look Like the perfect picture of healing. Nobody pulled me up as a public spectacle of the enemy's handiwork. And I could talk to and laugh with people without that obvious tension and discomfort. REAL worship. REAL fellowship. Finally felt like I wasn't looked down upon because of my condition. For months now I've been faking smiles, and then coming home feeling absolutely miserable. Today though, for the first time in a long time, I was 100‰ completely and genuinely happy. And that joy has stayed with me. I wasn't the sick girl who isnt still supposed to be sick. I wasn't the one who didn't know how to claim deliverance, or was walking in unbelief. I was just Vera. The girl who loves the Lord with EVERY fiber of her being, and who is continuing to walk through hell and high water to reach the promise that He has for her. Somehow I just don't feel like that girl anywhere else anymore...

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and DO NOT lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6)

This is something that has been grieving my spirit tremendously lately as I look at my brothers and sisters in the faith. So many times we tend to only look at this verse from a carnal standpoint. When you are in trouble, turn to God and He will order your footsteps. But the context is regarding wisdom, revelation & understanding. We get to a place where we become comfortable with our understanding of Scripture and then we get complacent. We no longer seek the Spirit's revelation. Limit God by attempting to figure out Scripture in our heads. Try to understand the Word based on human logic or personal experience. Then we think we are walking in truth. We mistakenly believe we understand who Jesus is. How God operates. But we are LIMITING the gospel to the constraints of our mind. When in reality it is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. (John 16:13) When Jesus was dedicated at the temple as a baby, the high priest fulfilled all the Scriptural requirements for the dedication of a newborn. Performed the proper sacrifices because he knew what the Word said he should do. But the high priest did not have the REVELATION from the Holy Spirit to know that he was holding God in infant form. Simeon and Anna knew, because they were dependent on the Holy Spirit for truth and understanding. (Luke 2:22-38) This us what happens when we rely on our own understanding. We may have read the Bible. We may have done our research. But the moment we sit back and become satiated by our own knowledge, we miss out on the revelation and forfeit the opportunity for God to move mightily in our lives as He would have. The Pharisees scoffed at the masses who believed in Jesus, because they didn't understand Him to be the Messiah, & after all, they were the ones who knew the law forwards and backwards. (John 7:45-50) The Pharisees understood the Scriptures with their head knowledge, but missed out on the Messiah standing in front of them because they were leaning on their own understanding. I pray that we would cease constraining Scripture to our own minds and logic, so that we never miss the revelation God has for us.

Preaching To The Choir

"I'm TIRED of being preached at..." It's the statement I hear from both Christians & non-Christians all the time. And unfortunately, it is a phrase that I myself have adopted in the past couple of years. I'm sure my mother has heard me say it a thousand times, "I'm tired of people talking at me instead of talking to me. I'm tired of being preached instead of ministered to." And as I've been mulling it over the past couple of months, God has showed me that this statement speaks volumes about the condition of the church, and the way in which we minister to people. I am persuaded that this is one of the reasons why we lose a lot of members of the church. Especially when they face times of crisis.

Philippians 2:5 tells us that our attitude should be the same as that of Christ. That includes the way that we approach people who are suffering. Yet somehow we have become so caught up in scripture memorization and theology that we neglect to look at how JESUS approached those in need. I've expressed my distaste for Isaiah 53:5 on more than one occasion. Every minister, pastor or lay person who comes across me in my current condition pumps that verse into me like you pump air into a bicycle tire. "By His stripes you WERE healed Vera. You're already healed Vee. The healing is already finished Vera..." Now don't get me wrong, I believe it wholeheartedly and claim it as truth, but after six years of hearing it incessantly it just doesn't always have the same power anymore. Starting to sound like a broken record. Yet somehow we have begun to equate "Bible-thumping" with ministry.

Some people literally spit verses at me like their lives depend on it. "You should be encouraged because Isaiah 53:5 says by His stripes we were already healed and Job 22:28 says we should decree a thing and it shall be established so decree healing because we live by faith and not by sight and Romans 10 says anyone who calls on the Lord will never be put to shame so run to the Lord because Proverbs 18:10 says the name of the Lord is a strong tower and the righteous run into it and they are safe.

Sad thing is, that's NOT an exaggeration. So you know some memory verses. That's all fine and dandy, but it won't do much for somebody who is struggling with their FAITH.

JESUS did not stand up at pulpits and simply regurgitate verses from Scripture. (Although we all know that He knew them.) He got on people's level and spoke to them, figuring out where their faith was FIRST. THEN He met them at their point of need. Faith and deliverance go hand in  hand,  but you cannot address what needs to be delivered until you minister to a person's faith.

Was talking with my Uncle the other day and he referenced the story in Mark 9:17-29 where the father of the demon possessed boy came to the disciples for deliverance. JESUS could have easily snapped His fingers and healed the boy, but He in His divine wisdom took a moment to speak to the father and address the dad's faith. At one point, the father begs Jesus, "If you can, please heal my son!" Once again, JESUS could have acted first and discussed things with the father later. But He paused. "IF? Anything is possible to them that believe." The father then cried out, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" It was then, after addressing the man's faith, that deliverance came to pass.

We have heard the story of the woman with the issue of blood. One account is found in Matthew 9 and another in Luke 8:43-48. Now this woman had an indomitable faith. After 12 years of suffering, she didn't have much of a reason to believe that she would be healed. No doctor, no priest, and no treatment bore any good fruit. But still she reached out and touched the Master's robe. When Jesus addressed her before everyone, He announced, "Daughter, your FAITH has made you well; go in peace." So you see how essential faith is before deliverance can occur? 

In Matthew 9:27-31 is a story of blind men following Jesus, pleading for Him to have mercy on them. Jesus could have spoken a word without turning around. He could have referenced Scriptures and prophecies about healing. But instead, Jesus stopped and asked them if they REALLY believed that He could make them see. When they agreed, He touched their eyes and told them that healing would come to pass because of their faith. And, of course, the men received their deliverance.

Perhaps we should keep Jesus' model in  mind as we encourage and minister to one another. Yes we are called to intercede, lay hands on the sick, fast & pray, and share the gospel; but none of this will bear fruit if the person lacks -or is struggling with- their faith.

Just as Jesus shared in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13), we need to ensure that the seeds we sow will bear good fruit. But rather than insisting that people "just have faith" and take us at our word, maybe we out to take a few minutes and find out WHY the soil of their heart isn't fertile. Maybe their faith has always been shallow; not grounded in sound doctrine. Maybe they have had so many rocks thrown at them, and held on to so much pain, that they're weighed down and struggling to find faith.
Whatever the case may be, as ministers of the gospel we've got to stop preaching AT people and start talking TO them. Working WITH them. LISTENING.

A doctor can't prescribe the right medication if they don't know the details of the ailment. In the same manner, you can't effectively use Scripture to minister to someone if you don't know the root cause of their problems.

I'll end with this. A friend of mine used to quote Isaiah 41:10 all the time, constantly reminding me not to be afraid. "God is with you. Don't be afraid of the disease, don't be discouraged, etc." One day I sent him a picture from the hospital where the upper half of my body was completely covered by wires. I remember him telling me how much it scared him to see me that way. I laughed and told him that I almost never get scared. Needles, biopsies, scans & surgeries don't faze me anymore.
He asked me, "So you've been meditating on the verse I sent you?" 
"Nope. James 1:12. "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial...."n
His face contorts in confusion. "I didn't know that perseverance was what you were really struggling with."
“That's because you never asked."

Fighting Until The Finish

Everybody wants to be happy, right?

Nobody becomes a Christian out of a desire to face hardships and difficulties. At least, most of us don't. We seek after peace and the love of the Lord, eternal life, salvation for our brothers and sisters; and joy to fill our days.

Yet often, we are faced with trials and tribulations of many sorts. Seems like that is where the biggest struggle comes along. Whether it is financial difficulty, sickness, relationship problems, conflicts at work, you name it- we all struggle sooner or later. The longer that the trial drags on, the more disheartened and drained we become. So what is the solution?

PRAY.

But one prayer is not the answer. One prayer is not the end.

I hear sooo many people tell me, "But I prayed to God and asked Him for [insert need or request] and He didn't answer me. What am I supposed to do now? I guess He didn't hear me if nothing happened. What if I'm in this situation forever?

Somehow we have limited God to some sort of magician. He's not Harry Houdini. There is an implicit expecation that as soon as we pray once, BAM. An angel flies down from heaven with confirmation, or the answer manifests itself immediately. But if there is anything I have learned about the Lord is that He honors perseverance. If you are willing to put in the work and persistently seek after Him, He will always answer you and bless you. Hebrews 11:6 says that He is a rewarder of those who DILIGENTLY seek Him, not just those who pray a couple of times when the going gets tough. Establish a routine and a relationship with Him, and you will surely see His hand. Why else would Jesus teach His disciples to pray and never give up? (Luke 18:1-8) From verses 7-8: "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly..."

Whatever situation you are facing or trial you are going through, I would encourage you not to give up hope, but to continue diligently pressing on in praise and in prayer. Keep fighting until you win the victory. Isaiah 62:7 admonishes us to "Give the Lord no rest until He completes His work, until He makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth." Stand firm and continue to contend for your deliverance. Then, when you receive it, God will be given the glory for pulling you out of the situation. Let your circumstance be an inspiration for others to press into THEIR faith and receive the promise that God has for them. But they will never know what to do unless they see the example in God's elect. Keep fighting so that God's name might be glorified in your life.

Psalm 55:16-18 "As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me."

Confronting The Lie: God Will Never Give You More Than You Can Bear

People always say "GOD will NEVER give you more than you can bear." If I hear that foolish cliche one more time, I will SCREAM. It absolutely is NOT Biblical. Somebody please refer me to the Scripture verse that states this. And PLEASE don't give me 1 Corinthians 10:13. "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man" is certainly not the same thing. Temptation and trials are not one and the same... 

I've spent years of my life frustrated over this adage that some people live by. I do believe that God will give the more difficult battles to those who have a higher calling, but it has nothing to do with your own strength to bear the cross you have been given. If God didn't give us more than we can bear, WE WOULDN'T NEED HIM. I wouldn't need to pray, because I can bear my trials. I wouldn't need to ask God for intervention, because I can meet my own needs. I wouldn't need divine healing, because I can deal with my sickness on my own. Clearly there's something wrong here. 

We spend time trying to convince people that they can bear every trial that comes their way... so then if you're having trouble bearing your trial, it's YOUR fault. If depression comes along, it's a character flaw. When you get fed up or tired or agitated, it's YOUR lack of strength. After all, God wouldn't give you more than you can bear. You should be able to handle this, right?  

Let's see what Paul, unquestionably one of the greatest leaders of the early church, has to say on the topic: 

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 NIV
"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,"

Nowhere does Paul say, "We were overcome with our trial, but we knew that God would never give us more than we can bear, so we took heart and were encouraged." No! He and his fellow missionaries were so distraught by their situation that they wanted to DIE. They despaired of life and the cross they were given to bear at that moment. But this was so that they would learn not to rely on their own strength, but on GOD. 

God gives us more than we can bear so that we learn to trust in Him. We can't live this life on our own- and we don't have to. Lean on the everlasting arms... That's what they're there for. He wants to bear some of that burden for you. 

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”