It is often very challenging to celebrate one another because we are having difficulty celebrating ourselves. We struggle with celebrating ourselves because most times we're not happy with ourselves. This state of mind is a direct result of not knowing who we truly are in Christ. This type of ignorance results in us being critical and judgemental when we really should be commending and encouraging one another. Seemingly "church" as we know it today, has become a breeding ground for criticism and judgement upon one another. And this causes individuals to feel forced to mask up when they enter into the sanctuary: the place of peace and deliverance. It causes people to pretend and act like everything is okay. It causes people to say, "I'm fine" when in actuality they want to say, "I'm losing grip". When do we as the body of believers start loving and responding to each other as the Word of God commands us to? When do we start encouraging each other to just be ourselves without any backlash? Are we so image driven that we don't have time to be love driven?
Church should not be a "click" reunion, fashion runway nor a social club, but a place where people are being built up and strengthened in their faith. Who cares what brand of shoes or clothes the next person has on? Who cares who they went out with? It's not important. Whats important is that all are able to be free to get naked before God and not have to cover up because of others critical, judgemental attitudes.
We don't have to impress each other in the House of God. We are sisters and brothers. Do you or did you try to impress your siblings when you were living at home? I know I didn't. My brothers saw the real me. We should be the same way with our spiritual sisters and brothers. Stop covering up emotions with prada and masking tears with gucci. It's okay to DO YOU! You're best when you're doing you. Remember, God made us fearfully and wonderfully (Psalms 139:13-17), so we're at our best when we're genuine and true.
I know all of us have that tiny desire to be accepted or feel important, but always remember that the only acceptance that matters is God's acceptance of you. If He accepts you, then it's not you with the issue, it's those who reject you. Start loving you. Start being excited about who you are. God ACCEPTS you! Praise God! That's an awesome thing.
I encourage you today to come from under that bondage of masking your hurt, covering your disappointments, hiding your feelings...just DO YOU!
Keep in mind, if we as a body of believers can't be real with each other, we definitely won't be real with God (Psalms 51:6).
Pastor Renee Roberts
I was half-asleep reading this blog but I'm WIDE AWAKE now! WOW! This was awesome! Everyone needs to see this because you may not be the one trying to impress others with fashion, or the one not "love driven", but we all need to practice being REAL with each other! Jesus didn't come for people who had it all together. He came for those who were sick, who needed help! If you can't admit you don't have it together, then how can He help you??? Thank God for our leaders who are constantly being LED by the Holy Spirit! I love you!
ReplyDeleteAs I read this I thought of a song by Casting Crowns called "If We Are the Body" which speaks about us being judgmental to others and how that is not what Christ called us to do. He called us to be His hands and feet, to love on each other just as He loves us. SNAP SNAP to this blog!
ReplyDeleteWow! This topic would be a hard hitter on those who think it's only about the outside appearance and faking it until you make it. This hits home for me because I used to be the person with the mask. Now it's not hard to ask me how I'm doing because it shows all over my face (lol). How are you going to get help if you're not real? I find that non-believers are looking for the real christians, who's going to walk the walk and talk the talk. How are non-believers going to be saved if we act like we got it all together. Thank God my pastors are REAL & STRAIGHT TO THE POINT using the hardcore word of God.
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