Another great post up on The Chief Sinner blog on community and accountability.
http://chiefsinner.org/2016/04/06/demystifying-church-community-and-accountability/
When I read that post, I am reminded of the amount of shame and guilty I experienced while at Berkland/Gracepoint. There were public and private rebuking sessions, public shaming for minor offenses, and so much guilt. So. Much. Guilt!
While I was there, I felt guilty about:
http://chiefsinner.org/2016/04/06/demystifying-church-community-and-accountability/
When I read that post, I am reminded of the amount of shame and guilty I experienced while at Berkland/Gracepoint. There were public and private rebuking sessions, public shaming for minor offenses, and so much guilt. So. Much. Guilt!
While I was there, I felt guilty about:
- not doing quiet time everyday
- forgetting someone's birthday
- forgetting to thank someone for something they did
- not wanting to become staff
- not going to prayer meeting
- not praying passionately for 1 hour +
- wanting to take care of my family or visit them during the holidays
- liking someone of the opposite sex (just having the feelings!!)
- when someone of the opposite sex seemed interested in me
- not repenting well enough
- being me
- not wanting to give someone a ride every Sunday. They lived in S.F. I lived in the East Bay. I did it anyway.
- not giving more money to Gracepoint
- getting reimbursed for valid church expenses
- not showing up to see Mary, John, Mark, and Grace off to ABCD
- not liking one of the members of my small group
- not liking someone in my class
- not having 10 people I was reaching out to
- etc.
What a drastic change compared to how I feel now. I feel little to no shame these days and guilty only when appropriate (when I've done something wrong).
Be free. It was for freedom that Christ set us free.
