This is not going to be one of my most polished posts as it is what I am thinking about right now- but I needed to get it down on words and welcome feedback on it. I was up late last night thinking, being convicted by the Lord, and writing when the Lord began to reveal something to me. I'm still seeking his face in this matter, but what he has revealed to me is that which concerns "Spiritual Privacy".
For so long the Church has preached a form of individualism while still trying to preach that we are a "Family". When you look at what wins-out in our Independent American Society, the Family of God loses and our "rights and privacy" as individuals win.
The scriptures speak in terms of us being a family; all of us as adopted Children in Christ. Even in the terms that it speaks about God disciplining us is in the terms of a loving Father to a beloved Child. It speaks in terms that Christ was the Son of God sent here to do the Fathers will-- even though to us now-a-days, rarely does a child do what the Father wants anymore, I think we can understand that, ideally, the Child is supposed to want to please the Father and do as the Father has instructed him to do.
And likewise the scriptures then speak about us; having received the adoption as children we also set out to do the Fathers will.
This started me thinking about "families". Almost all modern studies show that "Privacy" puts up barriers and walls between family members and it is one of the primary "family killers" out there. Even among families that have both original parents still together, studies have been conducted to see that in almost every case when a family is in chaos, and "malfunctioning" it is usually because each member has too much "privacy" and the family unit does not spend enough time together. In essence there are usually two similarities in all these cases;
1) No dinner table time.
2) The Children (and the Parents) are often found in their rooms behind
closed doors.
While most experts say that some degree of privacy is important because it allows emotional recovery, the ample supply of "time alone" or "away" from other family members has become a significant problem among American families.
I don't think any of this has surprised you so far because these are all studies we're well aware of.
What God has been revealing to me, however, is not merely what we already know about our physical family members but what we should already know about our Spiritual Family members.
When God fulfilled the old Law and accomplished all He had set out to do with it, He did not set us free and leave us in a state of literal lawlessness! He provided us with a new law.
"Bear each others Burdens and thereby fulfill the Law of Christ" Galatians 6:2.
I feel like the Church has managed to "send everyone off to their rooms" and is allowing their family members to "Close the doors" of Gods spiritual household. In many Churches the Pastor and Elders may even have NEVER come to visit a person and may not even know what their living room looks like. Members do not "invade" one another privacy and so it is very easy and quite possible for us to live our own, separate lives completely free from the accountability that comes from a close-knit family.
The degree of separation that we have from one another got me asking the question "
How do I fulfill the Law of Christ?" I mean, what opportunity do I truly have to bear the burdens of my brethren? Even as a pastor, I'm somewhat limited, although I have an advantage over the average member. Even still I rely on them being willing to share; being willing to invite me into their home, etc.
I'm not saying we should totally cast out all Privacy, install video cameras in all the rooms and link it to a central "churched" location. Not at all.
Like I said, this is something I am still praying about and seeking the Lords face on so that I can know what it is He has called my attention to and learn from it.
What do you think? Do you believe that we have too much "Spiritual Privacy" or that we are allowed to "close the doors" too much to people, spiritually, and thereby shut out accountability from our lives? Do you have any ideas as to how to fix this?
Comments (11)
This is something we've been working on in my Bible study, when we take prayer requests from people and talk about the struggles in our lives...I always find myself holding back, because I still feel like if I let them know what's REALLY going on with me, I'd be judged, I'd make others uncomfortable, etc. We can't compel others to be more open but we can at least create an environment in the church that is safe to do so.
Good thoughts!
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - Cool, thanks for the input!
I understand the being afraid to share sometimes. Do you think it has more to do with a fear or being judged, OR do you think it has more to do with a fear of not being accepted?
By "judged" I mean that someone will say "your actions are sinful and must change". I don't think it is always our place to "condemn" but I do think it is our place to "judge" right from wrong basically.
By "being accepted" or conversely rejected I mean that people might look at you and begin to think that you're unworthy of them?
@deepestrecesses - I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I have only been a Christian for a little over a year, whereas most of the girls in the bible study have grown up in the church their whole lives. So there are certains sins that I made a habit of over the years that are EXTREMELY difficult for me to stop now, despite praying about it. And I'd be lying if I said that I've given them up completely. It's a constant struggle and the sins are personal ones that I just don't feel like sharing in a group of ten people. I feel like the "bad girl" of the group at times, though I have no idea what skeletons other girls might have in their closest so I can't say that for sure.
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - Yeah, I understand that. Thats even sort of what I'm talking about. Every person that has come to Christ has had to lay something down. Although we don't live in the past, I wish we were more open about it for several reasons; 1) so that others could benefit from our experience and be encouraged to keep going and 2) just to keep ourselves in check and humble so that we know where we came from. lol
Do you think it would help you any if the other girls started sharing more of their past? Or would that not really help at all?
@deepestrecesses - Maybe. The bible study is over for the semester, though. I have talked to other girls who have similar experiences as I do and some have been helpful, while others make it seem all too easy...like once they accepted Christ, bam! they sinned no more. I have a hard time relating to people like that. I mean I'm happy for them that they were able to leave their sin but sometimes I catch myself thinking that I wish there was someone else out there struggling as much as I am just so I won't feel like an anomaly. I know that's selfish, but with God's help I'm working on it.
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - Yeah. I'm encouraged to see your heart. I can tell you desire to grow in Christ.
Its never easy doing the things that the Christian has to do, that's for certain!
@deepestrecesses - And I used to think that Christians had it so easy. I was always intrigued by the concept of the Holy Spirit, that once you had it, you became like super man. I wonder sometimes whether I'm truly saved, because even though I'm not involved in the things I used to do, part of me still wants to go back to that old life, when I should hate it because God hates sin. Yet I'm still tempted.
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - Indeed.
And I think many of us (myself included for sure) yearn for that "superman-like" way of life.
I do believe that God does free us from Sin, as the scriptures say, but that is definitely a process-- as Paul said it "waiting for the Hope of righteousness". It's a constant process.
I think that is why for the Christian perseverance is sooo important. Because the moment you finally cut that last string lose for that one sin you had for 20 years.... you discover ANOTHER sin attached to you and have to start all over cutting that one lose.
Giving up the desire for what comes so naturally to our flesh is, most certainly, a life long process.
But I continue on in the hope for righteousness.
@sarahzthoughts@xanga - i use to think we would gain a super-man like feature with the Holy Spirit installed to. unfortunately, that isn't how it is.
yet, some habits that i have had to cut because they weren't who I was, i felt like Superman not once I quit them, but once they were behind me. And I agreed with myself, that I let them go.
The only thing I can say about temptation, is that it will always be there, that is the point of temptation. The grace of the Lord is in denying temptation.
The other thing I have to say is about bad habits. It doesn't matter how many times you quit them, as long as you keep going. I mean that, My one really bad habit took me literally over 100 times of me saying yeah, i am done with it. It has now been 3 months since i have "used" it. Keep going.
My computer keeps deleting comments. It must be my lack of shill with my mini lap top.
Again.
The Bible teaches:
Older ladies teaching younger wives and mothers.
Helping the needy--requires disclosure.
Confronting sinning members.
Confessing your faults to each other (Fat chance with me)
Expelling unrepentant members
Praying for the sick.
I see not hint of individualism in the Bible.
frank
@FRANK - Absolutely!
I believe that each Christian must bear fruits in accordance with repentance-- part of that is confession. In so doing God can and does create many great fruits both in the one repenting and confession, and in those who hear!
My trying to undertake spiritual individualism we deprive ourselves of the wisdom of the older generation, and our other Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
Excellent observations.