“Ohana” means “family.” “Family” means “no one gets left behind.” But if you want to leave, you can. I’ll remember you though. — Lilo, from Lilo and Stitch
I have been holding in some frustrations for a while now, hoping that somehow the things that are bothering me will stop/resolve itself. I have been really been “edge-y”/tense and just bitter.
And I didn’t really know why until yesterday.
I got really upset yesterday. Things were said that really set me off…stuff about my church…the church I grew up in and which I consider my family.
It really hurts me when I hear people criticize Jaffray. It upsets me to hear people put down Aletheia, worship team, church leadership, the way things are run… I’m not saying that we should pretend that everything is perfect and we should be complacent or settle with the “status quo”. No, what really hurts is when I hear people -members of the church- bash the church and speak as if they are outsiders looking in…ie: without speaking with love and consideration towards the body of Christ - the people. It’s so easy to remove yourself from the body of Christ, and start looking at it from the outside to dig out everything that’s “wrong”. (Imagine looking at a snowglobe) But what is difficult is putting yourself in other people’s shoes - ie: the leaders.
I’m also really frustrated with certain people who have tons to criticize about with regards to how things are run, but don’t try to do anything to help. It’s people who don’t actually care enough to do something about the situation.
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. (1 Cor 12: 12). When one part suffers, the whole body suffers. One person.
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph 4:1-6)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phil 2:2-4)
Maybe it’s because I care. Maybe because I feel like all that I’m doing is in vain, that it doesn’t matter because things change, people move on. Maybe it’s not worth remembering.
It hurts.
thank you for articulating what i’ve been feeling, but never bothered to say.
‘complainers’ (that’s what i call them) do have their place in the grand scheme of things. if they are good ‘complainers’, they are usually good indicators of things that are broken and need fixing — like pain to the body; by golly can they be a pain. but like pain, they are often lousy at tact and incapable of processing communication in return.
‘complainers’ who speak the Truth with love, i call them prophets.
Hello sis,
I know you think I criticize or “complain” a lot about church, so I hope you can one day know of the pain and love I speak from — as one who is a part of this body… who from the inside sees a light shining through. Know that I’ve been trying hard over the past couple years not to complain as much, and talk to others and parties involved, those who can be part of the solutions.
I also wish that you could know and understand the ecclesiology I speak from. I think this is where I can bore you, and maybe you could even think these are ivory-tower / celebrity pastors who model and write of such a way of doing things… these way of doing things are more close to “home” for me.
Maybe it is just a difference that makes us different and unique at the same time. For such is the beauty of the variation of denominations
Nevertheless, know that I love you and take what you’ve said here to heart very seriously. It is affecting me so much that I’m planning to say something humbly about it this Sunday. Know also of how much I love the Body, and why I would want to live and die for it.
Because He purchased it with His own blood,
Alex S. Leung
hugs,
I heart every word you speak.. And I also feel what Alex is speaking. I catch myself complaining myself and realize what the stinker am I doing? I am torn beyond belief and there is so much to love, and so much to also feel tired. But should I not complain and become complacent? It’s tough… reaaally tough to push through. I think the end result is inside we want MORE. I want MORE I feel God wants more from us. And I’m not willing to stop just here. It’s just that we decide different ways to go about reaching that ‘more’… But it would be nice if it weren’t the same doers.
yeah..but i complain sometimes too. i guess it’s when i hear more complaints than constructive criticism that it gets frustrating..
thanks melbee:)