Visit To a Headache Church
Global Gospel Fellowship 
In this post, I describe a visit to a church that gave me a headache.
Since the early 2000s, when I had an experience in
Kerala, India, I've often been able to see through churches as if with an X-ray machine (more about that in another blog, or read Land of Coconut Trees).
Yesterday, I told my wife I’d visited more churches in the past few weeks than I had in years. After yesterday’s experience, I’m pretty sure that’s my quota for a while—unless they start serving free coffee and donuts!
Seriously, I'm not a church hopper, but I did feel directed to visit certain churches recently.
The first church I visited yesterday gave me such a headache, I’m considering asking them for a refund on my prayer time!
The day before, I had attended a service in Milton Keynes arranged by a group I support and sometimes speak for. It was so Spirit-filled, and the atmosphere left me feeling good. I saw my wife standing by the entrance, tears streaming down her cheeks as the Spirit touched her.
The service I attended the following day was also Spirit-filled, but it had an undercurrent of tradition, arrogance, and elitism—like the Holy Spirit’s VIP section!
That's the beauty of God; He works with whomever He wants.
Because I'm in a transitional period as I launch Ways of God Ministries, I've been asking God if He wants me to support a church or if He wants me to plant a church. I have a divine certainty that whatever He directs me to do will succeed. This is why I've been visiting churches.
Before I visited this church, I had a feeling I might not be back for a while. After hearing the preaching, I was certain—unless they start offering free coffee.
I had visited a few times with the express aim of hearing the Pastor preach. One weekday, I came for the Bible Study, but the door was locked.
Hearing the ministry of the Word of God is important to me; it tells me a lot about a church.
Often, churches cling to traditional methods and styles because they think it connects them to God and the move of His Spirit. They fear that if they change, they'll lose something, so they cling to old, dusty ways.
And because the Spirit moves, they think it's because of their loyalty to man-made traditions.
This can also lead to some ministries thinking they have a monopoly on God. Thank God they do not!
Of course, God has a way that He operates, but it's based on how the wind blows—we don't know which way the wind will blow, but He does.
For that reason, I'm not intimidated by those who feel like they are supreme guardians of the Kingdom. I just follow God, and He sends me to people who have mentored me. I am well taken care of by my heavenly Father!
At the end of the service, I stood at the back. Not a single person approached me. I might as well have been a piece of furniture! After standing there like a lemon for some time, I left for another service I had been invited to.
As I walked, I asked the Lord why He even asked me to visit that church. Every bone in my body did not want to go. Clear as daylight, I heard, "I have some things I want to teach you." What He wanted to teach me was not from what was preached, but observations of how He works and doesn't work with His people.
The next day, I received direction to start this blog.
Now it all made sense.
P.S.I don’t think people realise how excruciatingly painful their church services can be—like a bad sitcom you can’t change the channel on. But don’t worry, God will eventually guide you to where you’ll feel right at home.
Categories: : Church Life
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