What I wrote in worship this morning

I'm forever taking notes and writing things as I sit in worship, here's what came out this morning:

• Isn't it odd how the words and actions of a single person can sour you on an entire church?

• For all of my talk of the body of Christ as a community, it only takes one person, I don't even know who, to destroy that sense of community.

• I think that I want to be angry, it would be easier to just be righteously angry.

• I want to shout, I want to cry, I want to hurl, I don't want to sing.

• How can I ever hope to sell my ministry and skills if I can't give them away?

• Shake the dust off your feet. [This was one of the texts for the morning.  Really.  --mf]

• Where else is there to go?

• Tell them the truth.  Tell them how "welcoming" and "God is still speaking" are just slogans and don't really mean anything.  Tell them how there are people in the world who judge others solely by what they've heard about them and never bother to talk to them.  Tell them that some of those people are their parents.  Tell them how quickly you gave me up to them.  [If the associate had asked what he should tell the youth about why I wasn't coming anymore, this is what I wanted to tell him --mf]
  

Comments

[Heather W. Reichgott]

I do think it's important for this church to hear why you're no longer coming. I think you'll figure out a way to do it such that they can really hear it.

From listening to your description, it doesn't sound like this is a problem of 1 individual parent or 1 individual pastor. Because if it were really an inclusive community, the community wouldn't have just quietly allowed 1 parent and/or 1 pastor to send you away... the community would have stuck up for the values it cares about. This is a problem of the community, and as a community that values inclusivity (or believes it does) it would do well to hear from you.

my $0.02.

[Cowboy Diva]

sounds like at least the preacher understands _part_ of what you're dealing with and is trying to get the congregation to respond. As for your earlier post about the parent; fine, step away and let that parent get more involved for now. Join the choir instead; fewer parents!
DO NOT let someone else decide how you will share God's love.
To quote E Roosevelt, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."