Don't let disappointment be an excuse.

While talking to a friend today, we briefly touched on the subject of how often times people give God 'credit' for the times in their life they were disappointed by Christians.  Its true.  How many times have you heard someone say "I don't go to church because I havent found one that really practices what they preach" or "I havent found a REAL church yet" or the one that really makes me cringe "I am not going to go to church because I know a Christian who doesnt live the way they should"   Don't get me wrong....... I know plenty of people who dont go to church simply because they don't want to.  They don't blame in on the "church' for why they aren't there in worship being fed Gods word........ they just don't want to go to church so they don't.    That is a whole different blog but this one is refering to those who come right out and say they aren't going to church because they have been wronged by a Christian at some point in their life, or they dont trust the church, etc.    I just want to ask those people who feel that way to love those people in the church, the way Jesus loves you, and forgive them for disappointing you.  Don't let people disappointing you keep you from what God has planned for you.  I do know that you can worship God at home, you can pray at home, etc.  But a certain growth happens when you attend a healthy church that simply does not usually happen if you are not truly spending time in worship and the word among other believers.  Belonging to a church body is part of what God has planned for us.  As a Christian I KNOW I have disappointed believers and non believers and I want to apologize for that and ask that no one ever use that as a reason to stay out of church.  You see I am not a hypocrite, but I am sinner.  A sinner who seeks God's wisdom and ask God to show me the direction away from that sin.  Sometimes God has to reach down and point me in a new direction several times before I leave that path of sin..... and sometimes I tend to find my way back there even though I have no intention or desire to be there.    I do truly love the Lord and I do truly try to honor God by loving others and admittedly some of you make that easier then others.  :)  BUT my point to this is simply to ask you to forgive those who have hurt you in the church and never stop seeking to find that church that you can grow in along with other believers.  In my past 14 years as a CHRISTian I can honestly tell you that some of my most rewarding times in life were those spent in the church and with my church family.  I don't think every church is right for everybody, but I do believe everybody has a place in the church.  I pray you find yours.