Creating a confessing culture in the church instead of a masquerade:
Okay, starting with me...
I cuss like a sailor sometimes because it makes me laugh, helps me vent, or emphasizes a point (something I hide during church hours, around kids, the elderly, or most humans)
I admit I have a bit of an anger managment issue. The thought of slapping people soothes me on tough days (I suppose that isn't... really loving my neighbor completely heh?)
I say I hate lying and that I honor honesty above all other traits, but I can lie better than the best of them. (only when necessary... Uh huh... Still a sin)
I haven't "arrived", found "enlightenment", or "achieved spiritual grandeur"... Oh that's right, because such a thing is impossible for me because even when I'm not planning to sin - I do.
I'm afraid of large groups of people when I am the only female, black person, tall person, shapely person, light skinned person, or unfiltered person...
I hate certain people (oopsy)...
I prefer to NOT witness to scary men on the street (eek)...
I enjoy pulling pranks... I used to crank call the offices at my old church (aheh)
And I threw my husband to a dancing cougar just this past weekend and was rebuked by a classroom of older couples at our strong bonds retreat and I'm STILL happy I did it!!! (For the memories and blackmail pics)
I sinned at least once today... I said some choice words when I saw a puppet that costs $42.00 and encouraged a fellow shopper into being disgruntled about the prices...
I'll probably sin tomorrow too. I'm not scared about it either... Since that seems to be in my nature...
But, despite all of this... God made me because He wanted me here. I live and breathe and it delights Him. My every mistake is transparent to Him and He loves me anyway and He wants me to tell you that no matter how unlovable you think you are... No matter how horrible you think you've been... He loves you, He wants a friendship with you... Jesus was called "friend of sinners" by pharisees (as an insult) LOL well then I want to be a sinner, NOT a pharisee! I'm happy to know Jesus would rather be caught sitting at lunch with my family (burping and saying nasty stuff about darts and poop and butts)... Than sit next to some holy holies in a church building (faking perfection) Let's make the Church human again!
Let's stop faking it... We all have issues. But the one that hurts us most is not believing that we STILL were worth dying for (even with all the junk)!!!
Stephanie Josiah 9/12/2013
Okay, starting with me...
I cuss like a sailor sometimes because it makes me laugh, helps me vent, or emphasizes a point (something I hide during church hours, around kids, the elderly, or most humans)
I admit I have a bit of an anger managment issue. The thought of slapping people soothes me on tough days (I suppose that isn't... really loving my neighbor completely heh?)
I say I hate lying and that I honor honesty above all other traits, but I can lie better than the best of them. (only when necessary... Uh huh... Still a sin)
I haven't "arrived", found "enlightenment", or "achieved spiritual grandeur"... Oh that's right, because such a thing is impossible for me because even when I'm not planning to sin - I do.
I'm afraid of large groups of people when I am the only female, black person, tall person, shapely person, light skinned person, or unfiltered person...
I hate certain people (oopsy)...
I prefer to NOT witness to scary men on the street (eek)...
I enjoy pulling pranks... I used to crank call the offices at my old church (aheh)
And I threw my husband to a dancing cougar just this past weekend and was rebuked by a classroom of older couples at our strong bonds retreat and I'm STILL happy I did it!!! (For the memories and blackmail pics)
I sinned at least once today... I said some choice words when I saw a puppet that costs $42.00 and encouraged a fellow shopper into being disgruntled about the prices...
I'll probably sin tomorrow too. I'm not scared about it either... Since that seems to be in my nature...
But, despite all of this... God made me because He wanted me here. I live and breathe and it delights Him. My every mistake is transparent to Him and He loves me anyway and He wants me to tell you that no matter how unlovable you think you are... No matter how horrible you think you've been... He loves you, He wants a friendship with you... Jesus was called "friend of sinners" by pharisees (as an insult) LOL well then I want to be a sinner, NOT a pharisee! I'm happy to know Jesus would rather be caught sitting at lunch with my family (burping and saying nasty stuff about darts and poop and butts)... Than sit next to some holy holies in a church building (faking perfection) Let's make the Church human again!
Let's stop faking it... We all have issues. But the one that hurts us most is not believing that we STILL were worth dying for (even with all the junk)!!!
Stephanie Josiah 9/12/2013
No comments:
Post a Comment