Sunday, September 14, 2008

Bad Church Experience

So I work with this girl who had a horrible experience with church and church people. She was judged, looked down on, and is completely turned off by church because of the way she was treated.

When she told of her experience, my heart broke and I think that it sank into my stomach because I got a strong sick feeling in my gut. I was completely disgusted and hurt for her. It really pretty much pissed me off that a church would treat someone, especially as cool and genuine as her, like they did.

I was thinking, what would it take to see this girl come to a saving knowledge of Jesus? Is there a church program out there that would be cool enough or hip enough (church planters call it being "strategic") that had just the right combination of humor, coolness, and good music that she would be compelled to come?

I seriously doubt it. And if she did, she would hate the whole thing. She is simply not interested in anything to do with church.

As she continued to open up a little more, which is hard to do while you're working, she told me that she was not religious but that she had her own beliefs. I told her that I do not consider myself religious either, but rather more spiritual. Something clicked inside her, I could tell by the way she responded, almost agreeing with me that she was the same.

So what do I do? How do I be a missionary to her? How do I show her that the culmination of being a Christian is more than simply going to church? That it is more than just making sure you wear the "right" things and say all the "right" words? What would you do?