Many years ago I attended a church for close to a decade that was very works-focused. I slowly began to lose trust in the leadership because I rarely ever heard that God loved me, or that His love was a powerful part of His character. I often heard of His judgement, His wrath, and His hatred for sin. These are all important parts of who He is, but the love component was missing.
As soon as I started to lose trust in the leadership, it was difficult to get behind the mission of the church and start inviting people to join us at services. My heart was conflicted because there had been a big breech of trust.
Years later, I sat down with one of the leaders of that church. She wanted to know why I left, and genuinely wanted to hear my heart. I respected her for that, and as I went in to the meeting, I kept praying for the Lord to give me a verse. He gave me the exact passage we covered on Sunday:
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
(1 Peter 3:8-9, NKJV)
All these years later, I am seeing the beauty in that passage. The beauty that comes with diversity. Pastor Jason said something on Sunday about going to different churches…and how it’s fine if this person goes to this church…and another person goes to this church. Guess what happened in my heart that day? My flesh quietly sat there and said, “Oh no…not that church.”
But God used that moment to convict me. He said, “Erika, there is diversity in my body. It’s beautiful. It’s needed.”
Right now I’m following someone on social media who is going to church for the very first time. He is trying out all kinds of places, and friends…you should see the comment section of these videos! Theological debates about different denominations, what to stay away from, and sometimes big capitalized warnings of, “STAY AWAY!”
I can’t help but wonder…how are we representing Christ when we get caught up in these debates? How is this person, who after all these years has decided to finally follow and put his trust in Jesus…going to see Christ in us? Are we unified? Or are we divided?
The part of me that said “not that church” on Sunday is something I want to work on. Something I want to confess to the Lord. And eventually, something I am going to have to let go. Because guess what? Even at that church, the gospel is being preached! People are getting saved! Baptisms are happening! So who am I to say anything else?
I love the way Paul says this in Philippians 1:18:
“But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice…” (NIV)
Ultimately, if Christ is preached…we have nothing to worry about. Our good and loving Father will do the convicting. He will come in and change hearts. He is mighty to save!
Chances are…you’ve been hurt before like me. Maybe trusting doesn’t come all that easy. But maybe there is healing found in the submission…in seeing the beauty of God’s diversified church. At the end of the day, if God wants me to submit to become a part of that…I want to be all in. Don’t you?
As soon as I started to lose trust in the leadership, it was difficult to get behind the mission of the church and start inviting people to join us at services. My heart was conflicted because there had been a big breech of trust.
Years later, I sat down with one of the leaders of that church. She wanted to know why I left, and genuinely wanted to hear my heart. I respected her for that, and as I went in to the meeting, I kept praying for the Lord to give me a verse. He gave me the exact passage we covered on Sunday:
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
(1 Peter 3:8-9, NKJV)
All these years later, I am seeing the beauty in that passage. The beauty that comes with diversity. Pastor Jason said something on Sunday about going to different churches…and how it’s fine if this person goes to this church…and another person goes to this church. Guess what happened in my heart that day? My flesh quietly sat there and said, “Oh no…not that church.”
But God used that moment to convict me. He said, “Erika, there is diversity in my body. It’s beautiful. It’s needed.”
Right now I’m following someone on social media who is going to church for the very first time. He is trying out all kinds of places, and friends…you should see the comment section of these videos! Theological debates about different denominations, what to stay away from, and sometimes big capitalized warnings of, “STAY AWAY!”
I can’t help but wonder…how are we representing Christ when we get caught up in these debates? How is this person, who after all these years has decided to finally follow and put his trust in Jesus…going to see Christ in us? Are we unified? Or are we divided?
The part of me that said “not that church” on Sunday is something I want to work on. Something I want to confess to the Lord. And eventually, something I am going to have to let go. Because guess what? Even at that church, the gospel is being preached! People are getting saved! Baptisms are happening! So who am I to say anything else?
I love the way Paul says this in Philippians 1:18:
“But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice…” (NIV)
Ultimately, if Christ is preached…we have nothing to worry about. Our good and loving Father will do the convicting. He will come in and change hearts. He is mighty to save!
Chances are…you’ve been hurt before like me. Maybe trusting doesn’t come all that easy. But maybe there is healing found in the submission…in seeing the beauty of God’s diversified church. At the end of the day, if God wants me to submit to become a part of that…I want to be all in. Don’t you?
Erika Pizzo
Erika is an author of various books on the topics of faith, mental health, and victory in Christ. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach and a chai latte in hand.