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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Obedience (01/31/05)
Hi. I want to talk to you all about something. Something that will probably make you uncomfortable, maybe even angry. But isn’t it time? Isn’t it time for the comfort walls to come crashing before us? I might only be 20 years old, but I’ve seen a lot for a 20 year old girl. I’ve seen the lies, the bitterness, the un forgiveness, the hypocrisy and all the cover ups. I’ve seen it in you. Yeah, this church. Why do we do this? Why do we try to cover up our failures, our dreams, our convictions, all for the sake of what? Tradition? Rejection? What’s stopping us from taking the plunge out of the deep waters of denial and embracing our failures, our times of dryness. What stops you from experiencing truth? We have the power to live a godly life, but every day we all make choices which don’t reflect walking in the power and authority of God. Then what happens? We fall and we look around and hope no one saw us. We think to ourselves, “If anyone saw me fall, my testimony of God’s goodness won’t be real to others. “I won’t be able to sing on the worship team” “I’ll walk shamefully into the church because I know what others around me will be saying.” Well, you know what. That might be right. You might finally come forth and expose the truth in your secret life and people may be shocked, repelled. You might lose your spot on the worship team, but who cares? Who cares. Every time we hide our failures from others eyes, we’re exhibiting a false identity of who we truly are. Do you think that’s inspiring to watch? No. Do you know how many youth in here and all over this nation are crying out for truth, for someone to step up and be real. To show that they struggle with their walk with God. That they don’t always walk in the power they were given. We’re tire of the slogans, of the prettiness. Or is it just me? Is it just me who struggles and loses with temptation? Is it just me who loses the fights against bitterness and hatred and anger and jealousy? You see the more I see others quickly getting up off the ground, hoping no one saw them, the more I think, “I must do the same thing”. But you know what, I’m tired of that. I’m tired of running away, of pretending. I may be the only one in this church who will get up and say something like this, but I’m fine with that. You see I serve a God of power, a righteous and amazing God. A God of truth. God never hid his feelings, his frustrations and his anger. Why do we feel the urging need to do so? How can hope ever come to the people of this nation if we are all thinking “Oh, good! No one saw me fall down that time.” I want people to see what I do when I fall down, because there’s hope in that. You see, I reach out to the hand that’s extended to me. The hand of Jesus, the hand of hope, of light of amazing grace and love. Every time we try to get up ourselves we’re blocking others to the view of what can happen in our lives. We’re blocking the view of love, of grace and hope. If we’re constantly hiding, how will anyone be encouraged? Look, I know many of you are thinking. “She’s so young, she has no idea of what she’s talking about.” You might be thinking that I’m a heretic, an extremist or maybe way too liberal in my thinking, but I’m only following what the God of you and I, has put in my heart to say to this congregation. My challenge to you is this. Stop pretending to be fine when you’re not. Stop hiding. Adam and Eve didn’t get anywhere when they ran from God. He still exposed them. I’m not saying that we need to come up here and confess each and every sin to every one around us that would just be depressing. I’m asking, pleading with you all, that you would be authentic, no longer luke warm, no longer hiding from what you believe, not ignoring the questions you may have. I guarantee you that you aren’t the only one who faces the struggles and loses the fights. That’s one of the wonderful things about a church body, we’re here to encourage and strengthen each other in their times of struggles and weaknesses. Isn’t it time to obey the call He has on each of our lives? We’re all in this walk together. When will you break down those comfort walls and walk in complete truth. It’s time.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Karri Compton
02/08/05
Praise God for your fire for Him! You raised some excellent points. Just a few suggestions, though. Although I can appreciate the strength of your feelings (I have a tendency to do the same thing, only I keep it in my journal), this came across as a preachy tirade, and many people will turn off after the first few sentences. Also, group your paragraphs together and double space in between them. It will be much easier to read. God bless you, and keep writing.
Eli Espinoza
02/08/05
The biggest thing that seperates the youth from the elder is not age; it is communication. You write good as a 20 year old girl, but I bet you write better as a 20 year old woman.
Jessica Schmit
02/08/05
This article was written as a monologue, not a short story, "inspiring" paragraph etc...to my church. I wrote it because recently I discovered someone over me in leadership, had been lying to me as well as our the congregation. God's good though and he's moving through his life as well as my family. I just want people to understand that the more you cover sin up, the more difficult it becomes to get out of sin. That leader thought he was doing the best thing, by living two lives, but in the end it hurt hundreds of people. I hope no one was too angry by the content. But I’ve been personally challenged to live authentically. To be obedient to the call of honesty in all things.

Sincerely,
Amber Chance
Crista Darr
02/09/05
The definition of a hypocrite is "an actor". Do not lose sleep over the fact that someone might be angry with the truth. The Pharisees must have been angry when Jesus called them a "brood of vipers". Your story challenged me to be real. Yes, this is how we help others and ourselves. I agree with the other comments posted.
Sally Hanan
02/11/05
Monologues have paragraphs too. I agree with your points. Our church has gone through a lot because of unconfessed sin.
Cheri Hardaway
02/12/05
I have seen unconfessed sin tear up people's lives also; may we all learn to live truthfully and honestly in love with one another. Thank you.

God bless,