So I want to try and do a new thing where I write some stuff on some of the harder topics to talk about. I also want people to either comment or message me with thoughts and ideas about these topics. It’s not just a blog post but hopefully a discussion where someone can gain something from it.
It’s time to break the shame wide open. It’s time to start freeing people from the guilt and shame and isolation that comes with it. The church I think is changing but it has done an overall poor job of loving those who need it most. We’ve put people struggling with sin such as pornography, addictions, divorce on the outside when we need to be gathering around them and pulling them in close. The people who need freedom and love are the ones we’re pushing out. I want to break that open. Who reading struggles with porn? Drugs? Alcohol? Shame? Guilt? Because it’s something I’ve struggle with and found freedom from. And it’s hard and it’s shameful but that’s not who Christ is. That’s not what we are called to.
We are called to live in freedom. I want to break the stigma of the church wide open and send out a message to whoever out there is struggling with it. I want you to know that it’s ok. I want you to know that in this struggle, you are not alone. There is hope and freedom. Christ came and died for our sins. He doesn’t see the dirt you clothe yourself with. He just sees you. His son. His daughter. His precious little child that he wants to wipe clean. He wants to love you and bring you into his family and tell you that you are loved. Right where you are. You don’t need to put on a face and dress up. Just show up. Stop letting the fact that you are struggling with something keep you from his love. You are welcome here. If you don’t exactly know where here is let me explain. It’s in my heart. It’s in his kingdom. It’s in his love.
And a word to the body. Quit being passive. Quit allowing your brothers and sisters to isolate and sit in shame for their struggles. We’re called to love people where they are at. At least that’s what he did for us. When I was a drunken mess lying and cheating my way through life he looked at me and said, ya you are worth it. So why can’t we do that. Why can’t we stop trying to fix people and their problems and making them outcasts for struggling with something the majority of the world struggles with. Why can’t we create a church and an atmosphere of love that says you’re brokenness is welcome here. I don’t want to be apart of a body that’s sinless because no one is. You got shame? Good. You’re hurting and broken? Perfect. You think there’s no hope? Bring it on. I’m going to show you the truth about who you are and who you were created to be. I get so fired up about this because we let shame tell us who we are. But that’s not truth. That’s an attack from the enemy leading us down a hole of isolation and despair. So get your shit and come over. The more you got the more I want you. At least that’s how Christ looked at me. Shame you have no place in the body and there’s a move happening that’s going to eventually shut that down forever. The battles already won, so why are we so afraid to love those who need it?
