“There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus…” John 3:1-2
I’ve heard various stories about why Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. Personally I believe it was because he was curious about Jesus, and as the Scriptures point out, it was very evident that God had sent him to teach them a new way of finding right standing with Himself. However, Jesus was not popular with the Pharisees. In order to be accepted by his own people Nicodemus had to seek Jesus out in private.
I love the song “I’m Not Alright” by Sanctus Real. I never had permission to not be alright for a long time as a Christian. Over the last several years things have changed and now I feel free to not have it all together. I understand that my goal is to become more like Jesus, but as long as I am alive, I will always battle my fallen nature. I just wonder, why is it that the church has created an environment where people have to act like Nicodemus did? Why is it that people don’t feel free to walk through our doors and freely say without the fear of judgment, “I’m Not Alright!“
- I wonder how many lives would have been saved if people could say, “I’m Not Alright” and not be preached at?
- I wonder how many pastors, who eventually ended up giving into moral failure, would still be preaching if they could have said, “I’m Not Alright” and not be shunned or abandoned?
- I wonder how many teenagers would have grown up and raised their families in church if they would have had the freedom of saying, “I’m Not Alright” without being branded in a youth ministry?
- I wonder how many people could have received hope and grace or found redemption if they had the freedom to say, “I’m Not Alright!“
Why is the church afraid to let people be broken and to seek answers? The honest truth is, growing up, at least 85% of the answers I received to my questions, were essentially “Just trust me” or “That’s what the Bible says” (without a Scripture reference or with a Scripture reference out of context). Could it be we are afraid for people to ask questions to seek healing for their brokenness because our faith and our beliefs have been based on what we were told to believe, so beyond that, we really don’t know how to extend help to people? We don’t have answers because we only know what we’ve been told to know?
Check out the video below and then join the conversation: “Why does it seem the church has created an environment where people cannot be honest when things are “Not Alright?”
I don’t know why the Church does that. All it does is push people away. Why go to Church when people are going to judge you? Isn’t that Gods job and God only? Since God is perfect then maybe people feel that in order to belong to a church, we need to be perfect too. And since we are not, then of course we feel like we can’t be REAL at church and say that we are broken, we sin continuously, etc.
When I was 19 I was saved and I was never one to Not go to church. But my peers who grew up in church never returned for those reasons. I enjoy being judged by others. I love conviction. Bring it ON! God put those in my life a reason. I’m not Alright, but maybe you can help me become Right before I depart from this hell. hollarrr!
I know what you mean, and it saddens me. I grew up in a church very much like that. I know I was scared to share parts of my life and it got to the point that if you were brave enough to share, it would most likely be passed around as a “Prayer Request”.
It’s just hard to live with so much hypocrisy around. A lot of Christians like to say they’re here to do God’s will, but what part of His Will does it say “Stay in your bible-hugging bubble and keep the crazies for the non-denominational church.” That’s why I strive every day to live in the most shameless way for Christ, and I speak freely about his name. If we all think he’s done such an amazing work in our life, the people that are worse off will surely feel the same.
So why has the church created an atmosphere lacking honesty?
Quite simply, PRIDE.
We have allowed ourselves to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. Romans 12:3 speaks directly to this matter: “Do not think you are better than you really are. Be HONEST in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves be the faith God has given us.” Our society thrives on the “me” philosophy. Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, and YouTube are amazing ways to connect and spread information instantly around the world, but what is the common theme throughout? Follow ME, look at MY video, read MY post, be MY friend. While many of us use these tools as just that, tools, we try to use them to point back to the most important person in our lives, Jesus Christ, while that 30 seconds of attention creates a high that is undeniable.
So what should we do to break this cycle of “me” centeredness? Again, Paul tells us in Romans 12:9-10 that “9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Devoted: Feeling or displaying strong affection or attachment; DEDICATED. Affection for or dedicating ourselves to someone else, what a bizarre concept in this day and age!
So when someone admits that they’re “Not Alright”, listen to them, and share your story with them. Pray together. Love them. Let’s open up and be real with each other.
HE>i