It is in the god business! As far as I know they do a good job leading folks to the truth...it's not easy I'm sure, and I haven't been there in a long long time. My biggest consideration however, is, are they changing things outside of the church walls. There are always so many churches in any given area, and they compete to get your funds coming through the door, so many of them forget that this isn't about the building, or the songs. It is about spreading what Jesus told is to spread. His love, his truth, and his compassion. How many less drug addicts would there be if, instead of turning to chemically induced fulfillment, if they had loving folks standing beside them and helping guide their hearts to the truth...why do we not teach, preach, and practice this first. Loving those addicted, downtrodden, saddened soals that cry out for strength with little but a whisper? What kind of impact has the congregation had umungst the most feeble of us? I'm not sure how they teach so I can't atest to the things teach about...but I can see 500-800 folks going in the doors every week and nothing seems to change in our community. Drug addicts go to jail, not compassionate treament centers, because no one believes they could ever quit being addicted, wothout realizing the ostracization and turning our backs on them is what is actually fueling many of the addictions, even more so than the chemicals themselves, the addiction is about filling voids in ones own mind. The addict is creating a fake fullfillment that becomes so painfully and obviously empty when left chemically dependent on outside things or substances. I hope and pray that at least one of these massive churches around here begin to love and show kindness and compassion for those with a chemical addiction. We are called to be light, not to shame those who have been through these things. Praise and worship is there to get the atmosphere changed so we can hear with ears that do hear and see with clear vision. Yet I see, week after week, churches empty out Sunday afternoon, and with the congregation leaving and turning away from thoae who need help the most. I often hear, show me your friends and I'll show you your future, but was Jesus thinking like that when he was walking with the downtrodden? Was he shamming, cold, uncaring? Or did he give those with issues more love, more effection, and perhaps more time to find that withing us that is greater than he who is in the world. I have always liked the atmosphere at the Grove. It's always been comfortable for me to be therr.. but it still is one of typical convention and like minded internal homogeneous thinking...
Perhaps it's time to step out of the box and show some love and caring for the ones who need it so bad they can't even form the phrases needed to consider asking for it.
This is what has been put on my heart...and I believe it's time for all of us to stand United in our outreach...can we save a life? Can we save 10? Can we overcome the users ilk? Do we have it in us to show them love, make them.see that they are not alone. That the burdens they carry will no longer be carried with disdain or in solo fashion, but rather with a grateful helping hands. Blessed they are being able to care for those that chemicals have laid waste to. There are so many and we all have the power to love them, show kindness and compassion, give them a solid foundation to build a new chapter fulfilled from within, and no longer chemically induced. Strengthened and reinforced by the fullfillment of spirit, the true gift of the most high. read more