Currently, Tyler and I attend Willow Creek Baptist Church in Midhurst. We absolutely love it, sure we've had our small things here and there - but overall, I LOVE my church. I've been going there now for over 2 years and let me tell you, it took a long time to feel at home when it comes to the social side of things, but right off the bat I loved what this church was about. Not only do I love Sunday morning services, hearing our pastor preach the word of God, but it goes beyond 'church attendance'. We are able to be actively involved in the church, using our gifts and abilities to serve the Lord and further HIS kingdom. We've built {and continue to build} amazing friendships and relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ AND we continue to be challenged every week by the messages that God lays upon our Pastor's heart. We are seeing the Spirit move in our church and we are blessed to call Willow Creek our home.
But, I wasn't always baptist.
Thats right, for those of you who know me well enough to know that I grew up in the Reformed Church, you may be shocked to read that - maybe not. If I had to define my denomination - I am Baptist. But what does that even matter?
Will you really define me, my family or my friends based off of the 'denomination' of the church they attend? Ultimately, isn't it about Jesus and whether or not we have given our lives to his mission? I understand if you know someone who attends a church that is way out in left field - not even close to following the biblical layout of a church, but thats NOT the case for me, for Tyler or for many that I know. The point is not whether or not I am Reformed or Baptist or Pentecostal, the real question should be: has she been captivated by the grace and mercy and love of our Heavenly Father and does the compel her to live a life that is worthy of the calling she has received? {Ephesians 4:1 "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."}
Here is some background information. I grew up in the Reformed Church, it was only when I was about the age of 16 that my parents gave me (and my siblings) the freedom to taste other churches. Some of you may read that and cringe, wondering why my parents would ever allow for their children to leave their church. "If they truly believe in the practices and theology of their church, why would they let their children go elsewhere"... if you are thinking that right now, please hear me out. I have the utmost respect for my parents. In fact, through their allowing me to attend a Pentecostal youth group and eventually attend a Baptist church I learned very quickly that it is not your church denomination that defines you. It is your faith in the one and only God that defines you, and how you allow that to change your life. I met MANY amazing Christians who were evidently living for Jesus in all three churches, the Reformed church, my Pentecostal youth group AND in the Baptist Churches. My parents did not make me feel like 'less of a Christian' just because I was learning from other believers and churches that had some different theology from their own. Yes, my parents did stay on top of it; they would be sure to challenge me in what I was learning, making sure that all that I was taught was biblical, teaching me discernment etc. I am THANKFUL that I was able to experience a taste of different denominations. My parents were NOT wrong in allowing me that freedom, and I am no less of a Christian as a result... in fact I am stronger now than ever before because of my journey.
Sometimes I find that it can be so easy for believers to get caught up in a 'denomination-battle'. This is silly and so very pointless because it never goes anywhere. To argue as a Reformed person that you are a 'better Christian' because you think your theology is more biblical' then the Baptist IS indeed wrong, AND vice-versa. The reason I keep throwing 'reformed' and 'baptist' out there is because both of these have greatly impacted MY life. Should we really spend so much time arguing over our differences? I understand, if something is biblically wrong, then yes we should approach that issue with Grace and with a gentle Spirit and pray that God would correct the wrong, but when it comes to church traditions and preferences... how about we just get over it?
Don't pick on the Christian who appreciates the Hymns and the Organ. Don't pick on the Christian who appreciates the worship band. Don't pick on the Christian who raises their hands of dances during musical worship, or shout's AMEN in the middle of a church sermon. Don't pick on the Christian who appreciates repeating the Lord's prayer every week. Just because YOU don't prefer it, doesn't mean its wrong for others to do it. For those of you who think its biblically wrong and border-line sinful to do any of the things I just mentioned (and those are just a few popular examples I hear often) I think you need to brush up on learning the context of the verses you're reading. If you ruin relationships with friends or family {this one hits home for me} because they attend a church that does things differently from you - how sad is that. Let me tell you, it TRULY hurts on a deep level. If you know someone who has been led astray by false teachings or strange beliefs they call 'truth', be in prayer for them, talk with them, be an example for them - don't shun them. If you know someone who attends a God-Fearing Church, but it is indeed different from yours, praise the Lord that they are saved and living a life that shows fruits of the Spirit. Don't get caught up in shallow, meaning-less differences. If you know someone who attends a church faithfully, but doesn't actually show any fruits of the Spirit, and doesn't actually 'live a life worthy of their calling', but yet they call themselves 'Christian', pray for them, encourage them, work with them. In any of those situations, ruining a relationship IS the wrong thing to do.
Finally, I want to mention something that is actually quite hard for me to say {although a lot easier to do through writing}, so please read this with an open mind and heart. If you have ever found yourself in a similar situation to me, you will understand this.
To grow up in the Reformed Church and then years later find yourself in a Baptist Church is NOT easy. It is not easy to have God teaching you things that completely change your mindset and change your thoughts. When God reveals to us truth in Scripture, it WILL change your life. It was the hardest thing for me to finally say, "not only do I attend a Baptist Church, but I AGREE with their theology". It was challenging to admit to myself, and it is continually challenging to talk about with others. I believe it takes a TON of courage and faith to say, "God, my whole life I believed this, I was taught to be this way and think this way. I believed the bible was telling me this and that... but now, you have opened my eyes to see and you have revealed to me things that have made me fall flat on my face. I know you are asking me to in a sense 'let go' of my previous way of things and start fresh."
It . Is. So. Hard.
I have many close friends, and most of my family who have different views on things. Things like Baptism, Church Structure, Communion, Worship etc. To stand up and say, I know I used to think like you, but now God has changed my heart and I feel that he has revealed to me truth in Scripture which has made it possible for me to have the views I have now - is extremely difficult. For me, to tell my parents - who baptized me as a baby - that I am going to choose to be baptized as an adult - was one of the hardest things I've faced yet. They may not fully understand, but you know what?! They support me and love me in it and I pray that God will reveal to them WHY I am doing this. If this is news to you, yes I DO plan to be baptized. Why? I don't want to go into all the specifics {aka. I don't want to debate}... so let me just put it this way: I want to live a life that follows in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. HE is the PERFECT example by which I will live my life and I will follow HIM to the water. This does not mean that I have not been a true Christian up to this point, no! It does not mean that I don't respect my parents and their reasoning for baptizing me as a baby. When my parents baptized me as an infant, they were publicly stating that they would do their best to raise me in the faith and teach me all that God has taught them. This is amazing and actually very similar to what we call a baby dedication in the baptist church. I look on that now and am blessed that my parents did that. I am not throwing it away by getting baptized now. I am not over-looking it or taking away from its value. I promise you that! I am choosing to say that I believe that God intended for Jesus to be dedicated as a baby at the temple (Luke 2) and baptized as an adult and I want to follow in that as a faithful servant of OUR Lord.
There are people in my life who will look down on me, maybe even look down on my parents for this choice that I make. and this burdens my heart more then you will ever know. So in closing, I just want to encourage you to remember that we are ALL brothers and sisters in Christ. We are ALL sinful and ALL saved by grace alone. We may go to different buildings on Sunday mornings, we may have different preferences and opinions... but please do not let this become a war between you and other Christians.
Romans 14:13-23 {"let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way... let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification... so whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God..."}
Amen? Whatever you believe about these things, keep between yourself and God. If it is not a faith issue {eternity issue} and is more about preference and taste, do what you believe to be true for yourself. Do not show contempt towards someone because you have differences. For Jesus showed love to all... "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28}
We are all one in Christ Jesus.
To God Be the Glory.
Hi Hilary!
ReplyDeleteTakes a lot of courage and spiritual maturity to look into ourselves and follow the path God points your heart to, even when it may disappoint others.
I made my own choices a long, and. it was a big and unexpected decision, by the time I had a position on the church board and was dating the church office secretary.
Nobody understood, very little people accepted with a good heart. Very few blessed me in my inner quest.
And all began with a deep and personal experience with God. For the first time I heard he talking directly to me. This created such a heavy impact in my life, I just could not be the same anymore and that's why i decided to leave. My parents attended the same church, along with my 'formal' girlfriend. For two weeks I received a group of elders and deacons with bible in hand to try to 'bring me back from madness'.
It was shocking to me...For them it was like dying.
Just like you, I avoid to criticize denominations, although I go a bit further, avoiding to criticize even other religions. I believe each one of us should have our own experiences with God and whatever he wants to do in our life.
Unfortunately, one of the biggest problem with Christians today is picking sides. I saw your concern with debates and you are right. It leads nowhere and creates nothing else than animosity and division.
We just waste too much time debating different points of view instead thinking about what is really important.
I really believe your hungry and thirst of God will lead you to even more amazing experiences but don't get surprised if you don't see much support around you. Experiences with God and personal and individual, always. I cannot have yours, you cannot have mine. You and Tyler will grow together, but not the same way. Your experiences are only yours.
God calls your name, for him you are unique and precious. Every one of us is unique and precious, he will never leaves alone, never.
I spent a good part of my life afraid of God, until I finally understood that he loves me.
I understood really late on the game that he's my father, he loves me this much to gave his only son, just because he cannot have me away. He wants me close. I was on a distant land, wasted. He saw me from far, he ran to meet me.
He hugged me strong, he gave me new clothes, he kissed me and put his ring on my finger. This is what a father does!
Only when I became a father I started to get a hint about a father's love for a son, a daughter.
Don't be afraid to receive this love from God. More importantly, don't waste your experiences because other people think.
I am sure it will change you forever and you will never want any less than this.
God bless you!
Rubens
Hi Hilary,
ReplyDeleteI ended up here after following a link your mom posted on Facebook. You have put into words what often weighs heavily on me.
When my husband and I moved from the Reformed church (the very same one you left) to a Baptist church, it was one of the most difficult times of my life. I cried a lot, I prayed a lot and my husband and I talked about it a lot. It wasn't really an issue of differences in theology that was holding me back. I am kind of ashamed to admit that it was fear of what my family and friends would think that was making the whole decision so difficult! In the end, we indeed took some flak, some of it horrible and without merit. However, from the people who mattered most, our parents, we received love and support.
When it came time to speak with the church elders about our decision, I was terribly nervous, but the visit went a whole lot better than I expected. The elders were very understanding, handling the situation with wisdom and Christian love. One of the elders was your father.
I have no regrets about this step we took. It may be a long time (or even forever) that I feel like I am somehow caught in the middle of a divide that shouldn't even exist. I can truly identify with almost everything you have written about. While these things can sadden and frustrate me, they also give me a reason to dig a little deeper.
Thank you for your words.
Rachel