Our relationship got a little rocky a few years back. So much so that we took a break for a little bit.
We didn’t mean to take that much time apart. But few weeks turned into a few months. The months began to string together and before we knew it, we realized it had been a few years.
We allowed ourselves to take some time, we knew we weren’t the only ones who were struggling and wresting with our deeply complicated relationship.
The Church
It’s easier to sit on the side lines and throw shade.
When you’re grown up in it, gotten out into the world, seen a few things, lived through some pretty wild experiences, gone to therapy, dug into to doing some deep personal work, there are parts of the church that make your BS detector start blaring.
It happened for us, like many others, in our mid twenties.
There were some unsettling things we heard.
Some parts we couldn’t unsee.
So we stepped back and took a break.
It felt good to sleep in on Sundays. It felt refreshing to step back from something that had grown stagnant.
But over time we found ourselves being those people, the one’s we swore we’d never be, complaining about something we were’t actively trying to change.
We were the critics instead of the change agents.
We were challenging what was being done instead of being the doers.
We were spectators instead of supporters.
This or That
We wanted to come back, we really did. But we’d also grown accustomed to sleeping in.
We took a step back and started slipping into the back row of different churches on Sunday mornings.
Sitting at the back, still spectating, church became a commodity to be consumed.
The worship was too much showy and like a rock concert.
The pastors was long winded and wandered off topic.
We liked this but we didn’t like that.
If it wasn’t this then it was that.
So we church shopped and hopped, showed up but never belonged. All along still criticizing the institution where we wanted to see change but all the while we were unwilling to settled in and start the work of change.
We finally had a come to Jesus moment, with ourselves and together.
We can’t complain about the church unless we are an active member in a congregation participating in the change.
Coming Home
From that moment on, we held ourselves and each other accountable to not criticizing the church unless we were willing to be change agents within it.
Does the church get it wrong a lot? Oh yeah
Could the church as a whole be doing better? You bet
But transformation, in yourself and others, doesn’t happen when you sit on the side lines.
When we quit critiquing and criticizing, we pretty quickly found a church that we got connected to. Isn’t that something?
Finding our way back wasn’t about landing back in the pews.
It wasn’t just about being in a sanctuary with stained glass windows on a Sunday.
But we said we believed that people matter, that connection and belonging are vital to our existence. And the transformation that was happening in us was not only possible, but probable for the church if we were only willing to engage.
If you grew up in it and needed to take some time away, that’s ok. Go for it.
If you were hurt by people within it and need to heal, find a good counselor and do the work so you can be whole. Also, I’m really sorry.
If you just aren’t sure anymore, there’s space for wandering and questioning.
But we have to stop complaining about the church unless we are willing to actively participate in the change.
Have you felt distance growing between you and God and found yourself wondering, Why does God feel so far away? Why do I feel so disconnected from him? Maybe you have been aching inside, longing for deeper relationships with the people in your life and hoping to understand them better. Certified Enneagram teacher Meredith Boggs will be your guide as she gives you biblical wisdom and practical tips to strengthen your relationships with God, others, and yourself.
Maybe you've heard of the Enneagram but aren't sure what it's all about. Is it even okay for Christians to use it? Is it something that can be used for spiritual growth, not just personal growth? Perhaps you know your Enneagram type but have no idea how to apply what you've learned as a way to enhance your spiritual life. Or are you someone who has become disenchanted with your beliefs or lonely in your church community and are yearning for closer spiritual connections?
In The Journey Home Meredith Boggs provides a biblical road map to using the Enneagram, a well-known and prominent tool for self-growth, to revitalize your faith and guide you back home to God. Drawing on her years of experience as an Enneagram teacher, she weaves together personal stories, scripture, and practical application tips that show you how to
Better understand the ways the Enneagram can be a useful tool as you grow in your faith
Identify your Enneagram type's strengths and leverage them to kickstart and maintain your spiritual growth
Recognize your type's specific sin tendencies so you can break free from them
Cultivate closer relationships with others by understanding their spiritual challenges and strengths
Practice spiritual disciplines unique to your type and integrate them into your life
If you feel lost or disconnected in your spiritual life or simply want to strengthen your relationship with God and others, this book will help you chart a course to a place of deeper connection and fulfillment.
