Growing up, I believed everything I heard in Church. If the Pastor said it, it had to be true, because the Pastor was like, you know, God! I was taught to believe and obey those in Authority over me. I figured that the Pastor is a person of Authority and we should believe him! I am a very sensitive soul, also known as a "highly sensitive person". I took everything to heart. For over half of my life I was afraid of hell. I was sure that was where I was going. That is a horrible way to live! Today I am 1 week from turning 42 years old and I'm older and wiser. I can think for myself.
Our current Pastor encourages us to bring our Bibles to Church and to examine the Scriptures to make sure what He is teaching is the Truth. He backs everything he says with Scriptures References. He wants us to look to God for the Truth, not to just blindly take him at his word, simply because he is "The Pastor". He realizes he is human. He encourages us to think for ourselves and not just believe everything we hear, just because we are in Church.
Jonathan and I were attending another Church on Christmas Eve. During the Sermon we heard these words: "God Loves you and hates you at the same time". No one else around us flinched, but we both looked at each other and I whispered to him "Can you understand why I was afraid of going to hell my whole childhood"? He nodded, yes. Let me tell you folks, nothing says "Merry Christmas" like hearing "God Loves you and hates you at the same time!". (Yes, I'm being sarcastic). Before, I just blindly accepted words like this as the truth, because they came from the Pastor himself. He didn't really explain himself and there were no Bible verses to back up this Statement. I don't think he really meant it like he said it, but what if someone was attending Church for the very first time? Let me tell you folks, that Statement did not point to a Loving God. And if I weren't already a Christian, those words would have not made me want to become a Christian!
The God I've come to know the past 8.5 years, loves us all SO Very Much. He Loves me because He Loves me because He Loves me, because He IS Love! He died for me! He most certainly does NOT hate me. I am thankful that I no longer believe everything as Gospel Truth just because it comes from the pulpit. I think for myself AND I examine the Scriptures.
This Morning I searched the Scriptures and did not find that God hates me. I did find this: "But God showed His Great Love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." Romans 5:8
My encouragement to you all, no matter what Church you attend or visit is to always search the Scriptures to find out if what you are hearing is TRUTH. Pastors are human and make mistakes just like we all do. They are not God, and should not be put on a pedestal.
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