The Body...

I completely despise Times New Roman. With that being said, let us begin. 2008 has been a very difficult year for me. Not financially, not physically, not with my marriage or friends, but with something much more important; my faith. Now, when I say 'faith,' I don't mean that I am battling with doubt or beginning to not believe in the word of God or Jesus. Yes, I still struggle with questions and have plenty of days where I am definitely not practicing what I preach, but I won't use my shortcomings as an excuse to stop following Christ. I know He is real, and that the problem is me.

This year, however, has been a tough year when it comes to the church. There have been some unfortunate events this year that has lead to some serious discouragement. You are talking to a guy who practically lived at church and was with his church members almost everyday of the week. Now, I go once a week and very rarely get something out of it. My mind has been messed up.

I know I need the church, and I know that it is something that God asks of us to be a part of. I know that it is important for Christians to be in the church, and not go at it alone. But isn't the church supposed to lift up, edify, encourage, and all that good stuff? Why do I feel discouraged? I'm having trouble trusting my leaders, the speakers on the pulpit, and Christians as a whole. Is it me? Is it my faith?

In some ways my faith has grown through this. Where once I would just take in everything, now I look at things in a much more critical way. It has lead me to grow up and see if what people are saying is in line with Christ. 2008 has lead me to put less faith in my church, and more faith in my one-on-one relationship with the Creator of the Heavens, the Earth, and of me. I know that I have changed, and although it's been tough, I know that God is doing some sort of work in me.

What is the church? It is definitely a scapegoat. Too often we use the church as the excuse for our lack of desire to serve God, or for our own problems with our faith. I have always said that the church is a group of imperfect people trying to represent a perfect God. It is almost doomed to fail.

We are being perfected and I have to remind myself that. I know that we need one another to sharpen our faith and grow stronger. Do we need all the politics and organization? I don't know. I do know that the church is much more simple than what we've made it. Come together. Worship.