Trapped in Church
When You Are Not Being Spiritually Fed, but Feel Uncomfortable About Leaving that Church
This spiritual "holding" pattern crosses racial and geographically lines, financial status and church denominations. E. Boston, 26 of Laurel, Maryland, grew up Catholic, her entire family is Catholic and she attended Catholic school until her sophomore year of high school. She was uncertain how her family would feel about her joining a Baptist church.
"Even though the Holy Spirit moved me to join this church a long time ago, it took me six months (possibly a little longer) to go through with it," says Boston. "Partly because I wasn't sure if my parents would like the church and because of my past dealings with people of other denominations who are prejudiced against Catholics and cast all kinds of unfair judgments."
In Boston's case her parents were supportive of her decision, and her other concerns have been non-issues, as well. Of course, she admits "It's has only been a little over a month." But in Frances J. Scott's case, a 45 year old minister from White Plains, N.Y. her parents weren't as supportive. Scott was considering switching churches to worship with his future husband. "I was trapped in my church, many years ago. I remember sharing with my parents that I was moving to another church (same denomination), my father had a natural fit, you would have thought I was joining a cult."
Many persons feel trapped in traditional churches when tradition becomes more important spirituality. Dr George D Crenshaw, Pastor of Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church in Smyrna, Ga., warns, "Before leaving your church, ensure the leadership understands your unique needs."
Tradition must become a springboard into the future rather than an ankle weight to the past. One of the major reasons for spiritual captivity is belonging to a church with no spiritual growth. The elders push youth away refusing to share the knowledge, thus young minds finally spread their wings and look for a situation where they can grow, spiritually.
Dr. Crenshaw adds; "If after your needs are expressed and leadership refuses to attempt to meet your needs, while in possession of the resources, you must then prayerfully seek the will of God concerning your covering. The question that must be asked is am I trapped in my church or I am I trapped in myself?"
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14 Comments
Post a CommentGreat article & very true! There's so many things that go on in/or concerning church(s) behind the scenes its unbelieveable. I think people fail to realize that simply going to church doesn't guarantee you a ticket or free pass into Heaven. You have to truly want to be there & have an honest desire to learn & live God's word. Everyone can go to church, but everyone can't (and don't) go to Heaven.
I've felt trapped in church a few times, and tried out other locations. Fortunately I wasn't well-entrenched in the church and they weren't churches with a stong tradition, so switching was easy.
I feel ya Shamontiel!
I'm agnostic, but I can definitely see the conflict between the youth in church and the older folks in church. Everybody feels like they've got all the answers instead of working as a team. But my philosophy is if you can find church as a positive place to be to make yourself more positive, stay there. If you find it in another POSITIVE outlet, go there instead.
Thank you for ya feedback, you are so right!!!!!
Thank you for the link to your excellent article. I am Catholic by baptism and upbringing. I was always taught to seek God first in all that I do and say and my interactions with ppeople and the world. I was also instructed in the ways of humility and service thru action and that God is not based in a particular physical church environment. I have found over the years that people in their humanness, including church people can hold so closely to their manmade constructs that they don't know or forget what God's purpose for the church truely is.
I thankful for the teachings I received in the church of my youth and also of the truely enlightened individuals God surrounded my with that helped my to know that man's ways are to hold tightly to man's traditions and associations and holdig too tightly will lead to seperation from the will of God for each of our lives.
We are all a work in progress! (smile) And it does not matter when you get it as long as we do.
Thanks
Christopher I apologize for not responding earlier, I agree with Veronica, try visiting a few other churches. And I would liek to add before joining either the churches you were speaking of or any other that is pressuring you, pause and pray my brother. Take it to God and allow Him to lead you!!!
Veronica you are so right it is so easy to get caught up, for me I was too busy doin the work of the church in several different ministries, I wasn't allowing myself to truly recieve the Word because I was always so busy. Almost like I was putting the church before God. That's why I stepped down from most of the minstries, but it's easy to get caught up!
Christopher, I have been there. Sometimes the church can get a little over-zealous for new souls in the way of church membership. I say visit a few more churches and then see what God is saying. If your passion is for a certain church ,u will ALWAYS find yourself going back to it.
I agree. My husband and I were just chewing on this topic. Many times we get caught up trying to be like God that we TOTALLY miss him. We pick up religion, religious habits and tradition and all three cloud the view of who God really is. He is innovative, creative.....sometimes cutting edge. We don't usually like that as Christians because it means that we must constantly evolve....Evolution is necessary...