My Biggest Problem With the Christian Church

I find the Christian community to be very interesting. During the first 3 years of college I was part of Campus Crusade at Poly and it was a good experience in meeting people, and it really is a good ministry for secular/college campuses. But in the last year I was in it... I felt the full on cliques and the leadership full on played into it. They have a core leadership team and who picks them....? Leadership and staff.... and I just don't think you can say only those 1o people out of 1,100 students really embrace the vision of the ministry. I realized that just putting a Christian label on a group does not make the interaction of people any more Godly, and like the rest of the world... judges others, does not love selflessly as a whole... and the vibe seems to ostracizing. Also for three years I was part of a great church. A message delivered based on the truth of God's, and yet as the church grew from 150 when I started to almost 900.... the whole dynamic changed. Seemed like a church within a church was forming. I had a heart for youth ministry, and yet was told I should do children's ministry... and at that time it was not what God was calling me to do. It was the beginning of the end of what I wanted from a church fellowship. I wanted unity, selfless love, and a diverse congregation. Then, I went up to help with a sister church that was starting out... and while the beginning motives were great no one wanted to serve and it gave the 10/90 ration of those who help in the church, and those who just enjoy sitting in the pews came to form literally. Then it gets tiresome and like a chore to be there, and the heart was hardening. A church that lacked Christian accountability, service, and proper handling of funds. At least though.... there were no mini groups and segregation of others. Well... my four month stint in San Diego again proved "You gotta know someone to be part of it". I went to a church that I had visited before and no one talked to me. Heck 4 weeks after they thanked me for coming the previous Sunday (they were 4 weeks too late). No one called to follow up on my desire to learn more. So then, I went somewhere else, and the message was good and it took a month to get someone to tell me about small groups and what not. And I felt very much left on the outside in the group I was put in. And so when I asked for another one which would better go with my schedule.... never got a response. Went to a couple more churches and it was all the same hoopla. Fake smiles and cares, and cliques.... and it all gets so heart breaking.

Here I am now... and I see it a little bit with the church I am in now.... more with people in my agr group and it is just ridiculous. Fake hugs and "How are you?", but then they have no problem snubbing others for a month. I am reminded of Colossians 4:5 "Make the most of every opportunity, in and out of season". I think people also let position get in the way of what God's greatest command is. I remember from Crusade, that the goal was that of The Great Commission, and I think the church is what needs to facilitate that in our relationship with Christ, so we may pour it to others. I can see people stand in a circle, wanting to be included and they are shunned... not important. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. I realize that God presents those opportunities because maybe God will use me to minister to that person. Maybe God will use me to build a relationship that actually will draw me closer to Him, and them to Him. How do we get to know someone? Talk to them. Not a fake, could care less hello and a hug, but really.... find out how they are doing... and not just in 2 minutes. The body of Christ needs unity, and I hope to never be part of a fellowship with cliques, and people and leaders in the church who participate in excluding others, and not building relationships, and not living in a way dishonoring to the Lord. Why do we reject when someone is trying to get to know us? Why do we reject unity? Yes, we are busy.... but the more selfless we are.... God will give us opportunities. Sometimes we don't give people a chance because of our selfishness, or we think something of them. So we purposely exclude. I am blessed with three wonderful women who have golden hearts. I watch my roommates initiate meeting new people in the church, inviting them to lunch, or hangout night... and it is so pleasing. They live out the great commission. They accept people for how they are, and I see Christ in their lives in their relating to others and it has ministered to me and reminds me that is what God calls all of US to do. So instead of being at church and during welcome not just saying hi to just those I know or talk to on a daily basis, but try to go get to know someone else better. Or actually genuinely care and make an effort. I can't change others, and I can't force others to live out the life God has called. God values relaitonships more than the material things and monetary things we give, because the internal giving of ourselves are ever lasting. I have tagged those who I think would be interested in being reminded (friends), and those who I go to church with. A good reminder. I am blessed to go to a church that I think doesn't struggle to much with it as a whole, but every body has a few, and even last night I was reminded that the healthiest parts of the church are seen in what the focus on the relationship and priority of God in the church is and the relationships among the body. And I think now as more and more people in the world are judged and rejected or go into the world and are beat up. Let church not facilitate the same. The church is to be set apart... as we are to be. To not be like the world living in selfishness, vanity, and I think as people we care too much about ourselves in who we spend our time with, what we wear, and where we find our identity. But we serve and amazing God and prayerfully we would see others as God sees them, and love them as so.