Trinity Bible Church Ottawa

My Dear Friends,

“Our Churches are filled with people who outwardly look contented and at peace but inwardly are crying out for someone to love them....just as they are – confused, frustrated, often frightened, guilty, and often unable to communicate even within their own families. But the other people in the church look so happy and contented that one seldom has the courage to admit his own deep needs before such a self-sufficient group as the average church meeting appears to be”. Keith Miller.

It often appears to me as if Church is the place where we are most encouraged to “pretend”. There appears to be this unwritten rule that good Christians are supposed to presented that all is fine. You ask someone during coffee, how are you doing?” and they say “Fine.” because it is easy to say. Saying fine is easier to say than; “Not very well, thank you; my back is bothering me, my teenage children are disappointing me, I’m unhappy with my body, my husband never speaks to me or touches me, and I’m wondering if Christianity is true?”

Yes we pretend, and do you know what the result of pretending is? As Yaconelli says, “pretending perpetuates the illusion of relationship by connecting us on the basis of who we aren’t. People who pretend have pretend relationships.” True spirituality means we decide not to pretend, It is the decision to decide not to lie, or allow others to believe we are something we are not. True spirituality means we stop deceiving other and attempting to deceive God. We come clean.

The way we pretend with others is often a reflection of how we pretend with God. Because many believe that God loves them only when they are clean and whole and fixed, they work hard to present an image of themselves to God that is clean and pure Often we find it difficult to be real with God because we find it hard to believe that He still loves us and wants us “regardless”. Far too often, during those times when we are all messed up we either run from God and hide like Adam or, pretend all is well and have a pretend relationship with God.

What does a pretend relationship with God look like? It is the person who can’t see the beauty of our Lord’s creation. It is the person who can’t see the good around them. It is the person who is not free in worship. It is the person who is terrified of the raised eyebrow when talking about Jesus. It is the person who no longer can cry out to God in desperation. It is the person who can’t reach out in love to all their brothers and sisters in Christ. It is the person who is no longer broken over friends, family members and neighbours who are on their way to a Christ less eternity.

On Sunday we will explore this amazing truth; the things that we believe that will disqualify us from being a spiritual giant ( ie mess in our lives and our brokenness) is what qualifies us to be chosen by Jesus. When we pretend with God, and try to hide our weakness and brokenness, we disqualify ourselves from intimacy with God.

Don’t forget, this Sunday is green jello Sunday. I am hoping that everybody will bring at least one package of green jello to church on Sunday. You want to know why I want green jello? Come to Church this Sunday, and you will find out.

See ya Sunday

God loves you and so do I

Shawn