Faith Filled Friday

"You can't love the groom, but hate the bride."

I heard a very wise friend of mine say that the other day and it absolutely wrecked me. In one simple phrase I was hit with not sweet and gentle conviction, but deep-rooted stomach-turning type conviction. 

I have never been the cynical type. I naturally tend to see the positive things in life. And, I certainly don't spend much time in the negative things. What good does that do? 

Yet, unknown to me, I have spent the last few months stuck in a rut of cynicism. As I heard my friend say that, I realized that I have been focusing on the negative aspects of my local church. "Why don't they do this?" "How could they dare to spend money like that?" 

Cynicism. Negativity. Judgemental. Hate. 

Somehow, I let all of those words take over a part of my heart. It was like I had glasses on that could only see the bad parts of my church. 

​So deeply I heard that phrase, "you can't love the groom, but hate the bride." Jesus is the groom. The church, US, we are the bride. By feeling so skeptical of what was around me I had nothing but hatred in my heart. 

Hate does not honor God. Ever. 

Christine Caine spoke at our Young Adults ministry not that long ago. She told a story about how she had been with the same church for 25 years. When people ask her how or why she could be at one church for so long she always answers with the same, "better disfunction that I know then disfunction that I don't."

Our churches aren't perfect... they're led by imperfect people. There IS a time and place to be skeptical. But please learn from my mistakes and don't let it take over your heart. 

Tell God how much you love Him. Reflect back to Him, His glory and His honor. Then, spend some time praying if there is something in His bride that you should love better (or if you're like me hate less). Ask Him to change your heart. To make you more like Him. 

We exist to glorify God, to display His heart and character. And I just love how we are all uniquely built to do that. So every Friday I want to give you, uniquely designed by God, an opportunity to link up your thoughts on God, art, baking, photography, parenting, marriage, homeschooling, writing or blogging and more if they tie into or display the Lord somehow. 

​Here's how it works.
1. Link up as many blog posts as you want below by clicking the link below and following the prompts. (Perhaps think of old posts you want more exposure to as well as new ones.)

2. Let your readers know by including a link at the bottom of your post (or somewhere on your side bar) or paste my button code (found below and on the side bar).

3. Take a minute to visit and comment on another sweet lady or two's post. You're encouragement might be just what she needs to keep pressing on in being a voice in the darkness.

About Jacque

Jacque is the Missional Women Intern and a college student in Denver, CO who balances her time between trying to go to class and learning about His saving grace and perfect love as much as she can.  She is a twenty something, DIY attempting, Jesus loving, Denver living, small town rooted, Colorado sports fan.  She loves black coffee, long conversations and watching people do what God created them for. You can find her Christian Twenty Somethings blog at Desperately Dependent.

---