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#Abandoned church how to
#Abandoned church series

“First, I would like to work toward a discussion for saving these buildings,” Christopher said. It is this last category that most attracts Christopher.

#Abandoned church how to

If you’d like to receive notification of new posts, click here for info on how to follow Fruitful Today.When great buildings outlast their original purpose, there are three options – repurpose them, tear them down or let them sit in slow decay until inevitably they must be demolished. In Church #2 – When Jesus was Abandoned I will talk about some Bible passages that have helped me to persevere when disillusionment sets in. More importantly, Jesus understands your pain because he, too, has experienced what it’s like to be abandoned and misunderstood. If you struggle with these types of thoughts, I totally get it! So do many other Christians around the world who struggle daily with debilitating health conditions. Has anyone even noticed that I’m not there (again) today? Does anyone truly understand? Why has no-one from church been here for me in my time of need? Do they even care?

When we’re not able to attend on a Sunday (but would dearly love to be there), thoughts like these might spin around our minds:Īren’t they meant to love me like a brother/sister? If one part of the Body hurts, all parts suffer with it, right?.

It’s tempting to assume that everyone is judging us because we so often judge ourselves quite harshly. We feel embarrassed, and find it hard to accept how much our life has changed. Our self-esteem has plummeted – with lost careers, lost mobility and/or lost independence. Sometimes, our own sense of shame can overflow into church (and other) relationships.

We battle with feelings of unworthiness, or the sense that we’re being judged by others.

What do we have to contribute to conversations if all we did last week was attend doctors’ appointments, rest as much as possible, and try not to get swallowed up by despair?! Not really pleasant conversation material – we’re well aware of that! But, at the same time, we crave authenticity and transparency in our church relationships. Without the usual things to talk about – like work, exercise, social events, holidays – conversations can be stunted and awkward.

We feel like no-one at church really understands our world.

We may find ourselves wondering, Do they really care? Do they really want to know?! We may dread people flippantly asking, “How are you?”.

We’re nervous about engaging in ‘small talk’ before and after the church service.

See how many of the following experiences you can relate to. SO IT’S NOT JUST ME!!! Realising this has been tremendously reassuring. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to discover they struggle with the same things when it comes to church involvement. In recent months, I’ve met quite a few Christian people online who live with chronic illnesses. I’m able to catch my breath a little sooner after being thrown off my feet.Ĭlick here if you’d like to read about my church journey in more detail. Its waves are less frequent and not quite as powerful.

The grief has lessened in intensity over the years. These days, I generally do feel quite happy when I attend church.

(Others might prefer therapeutic activities like painting or music or yoga. Writing helps me to process my thoughts and remember God’s goodness. Once I’m back home, I’ll have a cry – or sometimes a long mope will do! I’ll often write, too.

During the service, I’ll find myself feeling perplexed and lost feeling like an outsider in my own spiritual family. I would go home flummoxed and bewildered, wondering if the considerable effort of attendance had been worth it.Īn unexpected wave of grief can still throw me into turmoil every now and then. A bunch of uncomfortable emotions would be stirred up each time I attended.

When I was heavily weighed down by grief, in the early days of my illness, church was almost unbearable for me.

#Abandoned church series

I hope this series will comfort and encourage those of you who feel like outsiders in church. Struggles with church community are common among Christians who face serious illness or grief.