“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!” (Hebrews 5:12, NIV).
I posed the question to friends: “When did church stop trying to disturb the comfortable?” It stems from a quote from a popular/unpopular pastor (depending on your perspective) what said that a good sermon should “comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” I am struggling to find a church that truly challenges me to grow. Personally, I find that many (if not, most) churches preach to the “unchurched” and “new believers” and neglect the spiritual maturation of their congregants. (I use the small “s” versus the capital “S” because I see a difference between the personal Jesus and the Universal Christ.) I don’t go to church to be entertained. I go to be convicted and to have my convictions upheld. I go to be disturbed. I don’t go because I am good and righteous. I go because I am quite the opposite.
I received a range of comments from my friends. One that most stuck out was from my nephew, Chris, who simply said: “Maybe you have to challenge yourself after a point.” He is right. I am complaining that the teachers are only providing spiritual milk when I desire solid food. Chris reminded me that maybe I just need to learn to cook my own steak. Moreover, I have to invite people to the barbeque. I don’t need to invite those who will make me comfortable. Rather, I need to invite those who make me uncomfortable. Maybe this is why Jesus was accused of associating with an unsavory lot—as an example to me.
I have tended to avoid religious posts out of concerns of offending. My question to myself is: “Who am I afraid of offending?”
I write most often to myself. If I can benefit others along the way, that is good. I do, however, need to accept a challenge to “comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” So, if I find myself disturbed or others find what I write disturbing, I have served a Purpose. I believe Spiritual well-centeredness is the Universal Christ—a Christ who transcends the religion that bears his name and the Jesus in whom he resided. If I want to be disturbed, it isn’t going to happen in church. I have to seek it out for myself among the disturbed.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!