“This is my story; this is my song”

So this month marks a year since I left Institutional Church.

I don’t know where it all began, but I had questions about the “church experience” and how it never really lived up to what I read in the word.
Now I know no “church” is perfect but I believe God is and what He creates i.e The Body of Christ (whether you believe perfection is to come or is, right now; we’re talking about how God sees us.)

I really got tired of the rat race, the politics and hierarchy. The fact that you could be a member of a church for years and never feel like you were part of the fabric, never feel like you were home or belonged and especially among people with whom you share divine DNA.
I got tired of being a mere pew warmer on a Sunday and when I saw that actually God’s heart is for mutual participation, where everyone plays a part and not merely in “serving” in the traditional sense.
I know you may not agree with me, but this has been my personal walk and I am trusting where He is ever-leading.

I see a different way of gathering to be honest: where there are no walls, where Christ is truly Head, where the Holy Spirit is in control and not our man-made traditions or a programme.
While I believe in structure, leadership, authority and all those good things, the way that I have experienced so-called “authority” and “submission” so far in my life has been more of control, power and management in the hands of a select few. I believe that godly submission flows naturally out of a relationship, founded upon Love, respect, mutual edification etc, not where “because I am your pastor, you must obey me.” And believe it or not, that is a doctrine you will not find in the Word of God.

Finally, my “institutional” church experience hasn’t been all bad, I have made lifelong friends, learnt so much about myself, the God Who Loves me and I wouldn’t be here writing this if it weren’t for my past experiences.

There’s so much more to say and I hope I’ll be able to open up more because my experiences in the last year have been difficult especially relating to church, but, God is working and has worked all things out for my good and for this I am thankful.