I almost never do this. I know the following verses are about confession, forgiveness and prayer. But we are told Agape love does not brag and is not puffed up with pride. Take a look at these two men. If you were suffering, which one would you ask for help?
Luke 18:9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
A few experiences in my life make me believe that our churches are getting the reputation of being more like the first man than the latter.
Sitting in a small group bible study, we went around “discussing” the prepared questions. People answered with the proper answers to all the questions then we moved to the next question. One person, not even upset, suddenly answered a question with an answer not expected. They spoke about an issue with a grown kid who was headed down a bad path.
The group came alive, people started sharing similar experiences from their lives. It was a very honest moment. People took off the “I am a perfect” Christian with perfect kids costume and let others see them vulnerable. This group grew close and the people never played the perfect answer game again.
Move forward a few years, I found myself sitting in a room of mothers whose teens were struggling with issues. Each woman in the room shared their feelings, discussed what had happened and confided their fears. Love was real between them. Most were Christians and Church goers. Or had been regular attenders, but slipped aways as this group became their family.
I asked why they had not found the supported they needed in the Church. They all said (even the ones still going to church multiple times a week) they could not tell the people at church about what was happening. They believed they would be judged or their kids would be judged. A couple of women said that the church did know and had never came to visit the teen or shown them any love. They felt the people in the church would never understand.
Years ago people use to stand up in church services and tell their testimonies. I remember as a teen, people describing hard times and how God provided. Most Christians never tell their stories. We pretend to be perfect people when we are forgiven people trying to follow our savior. When we fall, he reaches down and lifts us up. Maybe we should not be too proud to tell people about our falls, our pain and God’s mercy.
Fourth Day Adventures 