It would seem that all our lives we are taught to be fake by society and even people close to us. To be friendly and nice but to keep it on a surface level. Even at church.
Well, the structure of normal church isn't very conducive to real relationships anyway. But I believe that we have become so individualistic that we don't even really want open honest community-like relationships.
You know how it goes---you hang out with people but you have to withhold certain things from them to make sure you don't offend them or cause any discomfort. There are certain Christians that you know that you have to walk on eggshells around them. You have to stay away from certain subjects that you know will get them going. To me that is just bogus. I spent so many years of my life living that way around certain friends and family members and church people. But it doesn't get us anywhere. It's not real. Now I am not advocating running around spouting off every little thing you think others do wrong. Not even close. As a matter of fact if you enjoy telling others their faults you better check yourself cause that ain't right.
But I'm talking about things that you should be able to talk about with those around you. For example I know Christians that I can't talk the Bible with cause if I disagree with them they get all defensive or even mad! That is just plain wrong. Many of these people have been in the church for umpteen million years yet you have to tread lightly around them! To me a sign of maturity is that you will listen and consider that you may be wrong. [Insert humble or contrite if you will.]
This once again is an individualistic prideful problem--"It's between me and Jesus." "I believe what I feel is right." It's like we claim Jesus as OUR possession rather than us being His possession!!
You don't have to be a biblical genius to see how straight forward Paul and the NT examples were. Just read it with open eyes. That is one of the reasons that Jesus and Paul and the others were often disliked. We are far too politically correct today. Heck, Paul even called certain people out by name in his letters, like the metal worker that he warned people about. We would never think such things now in our fake society. I have noticed that even in the latest organic church books we are now leaving out the names of the denominations and famous religious leaders that we are using as examples. Come on.
Can't we just be loving and real? Our time here is short. We don't need to waste it on fake relationships.
I pray for us to be real loving people, to know what to say and to know when it will be casting our pearls before pigs.
