I didn't go to church yesterday. I'm not sick. No one in my house is sick. I just didn't go.
I love our minister and our congregation. I love that we are a socially aware community that reaches out to our neighborhood and around the world.
Our minister has been doing a series lately called "Can I Get a Witness?"
It's been really good and eye-opening, but I just couldn't handle yesterday's message especially following the past couple of weeks.
Yesterday's message was Where Were You in April 1994? -- a discussion with a Rwandan minister who was there during the genocide.
I just didn't think I could take the stress.
Instead I stayed home. I did my Bible study. I talked with my husband. I watched Wimbledon. I rested.
I didn't think about mass murder. I didn't think about universal suffering.
I talked with my family about being kinder to each other -- about being compassionate to those we are closest to, and therefore most likely to take advantage of.
I didn't feel guilty for not going to church.
I listened for God and I heard Him say, "Rest, worship, relax. Honor yourself while honoring Me."
I like relational Christianity much more than rules driven Christianity.
Blessings.
We all need a break sometimes. Sunday is the day of rest, after all, and you still honored God. As far as I know, there's no rule that says you have to be in church every Sunday, anyway. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd that is the heart of worship to me. We don't need the trappings of a building or a bulletin or anything. To me it's about listening and learning from God what his lessons for us are.
ReplyDelete