Re: lonliness
Submitted by Ben on February 12 2000 at 10:21:13
In reply to lonliness Submitted by Jack on February 08 2000 at 18:31:38
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Hi Jack - Welcome to CBLF. I certainly can relate to your situation. I spent a life in loneliness, always having friends and being well liked, but never really being able to show my real self. I was a act, and inside I was completely empty. A church who is really following Jesus, understands that all people must be accepted and valued: 1 Corinthians 12:25 ...so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. Unfortunately, most churches are lukewarm at best, preferring to let everyone do their own thing and accept only what feels comfortable to them. They fail to reach out to all people and to truly pour their love out. If God loves all of us equally (and he DOES...!!!) then Jesus was God and also feels that way. And if Christians are people who follow Jesus, then Christians need to be striving to love all people. If your church isn't doing this then I have one suggestion: Find another church. I have never before experienced what it is like to NOT be lonely until I went into the waters of baptism under a year ago. My relationship with God fills me daily and my companionship with other brothers in the body fills in the crevices (even though it isn't supposed to). I think that BLs make the mistake of looking for a church which is 'watered down' enough to accept everyone, even a BL. In reality, what we need to find is a radical church which truly lives by the Word of God, and therefore lives their lives in a way that actively loves and welcomes everyone. My church is often opposed for being so 'fundamentalist'. I don't think that Jesus came to earth to appease everyone and to make them feel cushy and warm. Jesus was radical, and his message was radical. Read Acts 2 and see what the Jews who came to Jerusalem for Pentacost ended up doing! You are welcome here Jack. From me you will get all of the love and guidance that you want, but not just because I am also a BL and understand where you are coming from. It is because I KNOW that God loves you and needs a relationship with you just as much as Michael Jordan, Mother Theresa or the Dali Lama :) You are not alone. Your bro in Christ, Ben |