LRC, Houston - the weekends-free church in Houston, Texas

Some days aren’t good, but then you know that, don’t you?

I used to live in denial. I was good at it too. Every day was GREAT! It was my psyche, my disposition, my desire, my false self! It’s been a long journey; however, I think I’m getting much closer to the reality of life- Matthew 5:45.

I don’t know what it takes to convey to someone that being or becoming a Christian doesn’t mean life is a bowl of cherries (however good they might be). It’s a bummer to find out that what the pastor or priest conveyed to lure many into a confession of faith might not be true. I can’t tell you how many messages I have heard from those who handle the word for a living say in closing, “Come to Jesus and everything will be great”.

Bull!

The TRUTH is, come to Jesus and you’ll have someone to walk through hell with you!

I’m reminded of this true story of a couple who felt called to establish an inner city ministry in Detroit. The gave up all they had, they lived a meager life serving others. Life was difficult serving God in such conditions, but their heart was to serve. Then one day their youngest daughter was raped. And here are her words. “I wake up every day and I want to die. I feel used, abused, not respected by God. I risked everything for God and this is what I get. There is no way that I can describe the anger, the absolute rage I feel at every level of my being. Why should my life have to be this way?”

What’s your answer to her?

Simplistic religious platitudes don’t work.

You can go to the story of Job and find a similar situation and almost the same response to the hand that life had dealt him. The twenty six verses of chapter three contain much the same pain and anguish. It’s there for our understanding, and more. Unfortunately, in America we’ve made religion, Christianity a “prosperity gospel”. We’ve promoted a “sloppy agape” concept of life. We’ve sold millions of Christian books on how easy life with Christ is.

It ain’t so (poor grammer intended).

But this is what I can tell you for sure. I can’t go through life without Jesus as my companion. I cannot imagine any life without Him. And with Him, I know what the eventual end will produce, regardless of what the NOW life is offering me. And as important, I must have friends who want to share life with me, and others. I cannot make it without a community of like-minded believers who are in my life for the duration: not cut and run at the first adversity. We’re all in the same soup. Some just didn’t pick the short straw. Others didn’t even get to choose straws at all.

Consolation, compassion and support are found in Him and a local body of believers (unlike Job’s three friends). But, having someone to just SIT with you isn’t all that bad. It beats sitting alone. Speaking of which.

Are you committed to an extended family of believers?