The other day I sat and listened as someone made the statement that they trust someone they met at a bar more than the church people. He continued saying that the church people let you down and do you wrong. What I heard played games with my heart because he had a point. Not a happy one-but a point.
From the world's view the people of the world can be trusted more. They appear unflawed and have it all together. FROM A WORLDLY STAND POINT. If we look at them with honest God vision, we can see the brokenness that they hide behind the alcohol and wall of self-preservation.
Here's the thing...worldly people that are not living for God won't cause you the upset in your life that Christians will. Oh wow...did I just say that?!? Satan doesn't mess with them. He already has them where he wants them. He doesn't see them as a threat to his plans. If they aren't following the will of God, they won't further the Kingdom of God. The problem is...Satan doesn't want us in fellowship with God or each other through Christ.
Satan's goal is to tear down the church. I don't mean the building, I am talking about the unity within the marriage of people to God through fellowship. Why do you think so many marriages are failing? Just like regular husband-wife marriage, God expects us to be unified in Him. The church should share the same unification within God's will.
Satan is a number one killer of marriages and relationships within the church. He will deceive people into all kinds of sin causing a strain on God's family. Satan doesn't worry about the people that he knows are not a threat. Now I am not saying that if you hang out at a bar you aren't a child of God-what I am saying is that if you are expecting church family to be perfect like the people you see covering their problems with alcohol, well, they aren't.
The good thing about church family, we can be real with each other. We know that Satan is the enemy and not each other. Satan hates that! When we show our imperfection, we can give God the glory for redemption.
We all hate sin. We all hate when we hurt each other. (At least we should if we truly are in God's family) God can use the bad that Satan intended for His good. He can bring us closer through the power of Holy Spirit forgiveness.
It's amazing the bond that forms when you truly forgive a member of your holy family. And on the otherside, it's an amazing feeling when the one you've hurt forgives you. I have been on both sides of this and I find it transforming.
On the flip side, I have also been one to hide behind alcohol. I have found myself, in the past, consoling a bottle of wine or a friend drinking with me. When alcohol covers the pain, it just numbs it. It doesn't resolve ANYTHING!
As a truly new creation in Christ, I have completely stopped drinking. I do not judge or condemn you if you drink or hang out with the bar goers but I will say this...God is a healer of all broken. He doesn't numb the pain, He heals it. Heals!!! The family of God is a support system for God. They aren't perfect and most don't claim to be. That's a big difference between trusting the world and trusting God. God can use our broken and flaws. The world covers their's in a hope that you will only see perfection. Yes, there are "church-goers" that hide behind walls in an attempt to cover their imperfections. But...when the walls cone down its AMAZING!!!!
First, the people that cover their pain and broken with alcohol are running from their problems not to God.
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