Comments on: Tired of Being a Broken Christian http://www.nealcampbell.com/2009/02/17/tired-of-being-a-broken-christian/ Neal Campbell's Blog about life and new media ... have a nice day! ☺ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:05:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dan http://www.nealcampbell.com/2009/02/17/tired-of-being-a-broken-christian/#comment-27152 Dan Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:20:31 +0000 http://www.nealcampbell.com/?p=172#comment-27152 Neal,I don't think you broken, but more like orphan. Thankyou for sharing part of your life. I too feel broken, torn between my wants and Gods needs of me. I pray you find a Church family. I was once a lost piece of a puzzle for years, not knowing where I belonged. Then God sent me to my present Chruch family. I was a perfect fit, like I had always been there. God bless, don't stop looking. Neal,I don’t think you broken, but more like orphan. Thankyou for sharing part of your life. I too feel broken, torn between my wants and Gods needs of me.
I pray you find a Church family. I was once a lost piece of a puzzle for years, not knowing where I belonged. Then God sent me to my present Chruch family. I was a perfect fit, like I had always been there.
God bless, don’t stop looking.

]]> By: Doug http://www.nealcampbell.com/2009/02/17/tired-of-being-a-broken-christian/#comment-26432 Doug Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:40:10 +0000 http://www.nealcampbell.com/?p=172#comment-26432 You aren't broken, that church is, because it forgot to care about all people, including gays and women who can't face having a child at that point in their life. So find a new church that is worthy of your support. Keep looking... it's out there. You aren’t broken, that church is, because it forgot to care about all people, including gays and women who can’t face having a child at that point in their life. So find a new church that is worthy of your support. Keep looking… it’s out there.

]]> By: tom http://www.nealcampbell.com/2009/02/17/tired-of-being-a-broken-christian/#comment-26414 tom Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:47:24 +0000 http://www.nealcampbell.com/?p=172#comment-26414 Broken? It sounds to me like the church provided you with a strong social network. You assumed the people in this network would be kind people because they were also Christian. Unfortunately the faithful are statistically no more empathetic than non-believers. It sounds to me like you are coming up against this contradiction and are smart enough that you can't ignore it. But having your social network pulled out from under you is pretty stressful. My advice: rebuild your social network with people who have a track record of actual kindness to other human beings. And by kindness I mean concern for the suffering of others without any religious overtones. This works well for me. And if you yourself are not causing suffering to anyone, stop calling yourself broken. Maybe it's those who suspend their empathy and use doctrine to justify it, who are broken. Peace. Broken?
It sounds to me like the church provided you with a strong social network. You assumed the people in this network would be kind people because they were also Christian. Unfortunately the faithful are statistically no more empathetic than non-believers. It sounds to me like you are coming up against this contradiction and are smart enough that you can’t ignore it. But having your social network pulled out from under you is pretty stressful.

My advice: rebuild your social network with people who have a track record of actual kindness to other human beings. And by kindness I mean concern for the suffering of others without any religious overtones. This works well for me.

And if you yourself are not causing suffering to anyone, stop calling yourself broken. Maybe it’s those who suspend their empathy and use doctrine to justify it, who are broken.

Peace.

]]> By: Perry Lund http://www.nealcampbell.com/2009/02/17/tired-of-being-a-broken-christian/#comment-25563 Perry Lund Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:48:53 +0000 http://www.nealcampbell.com/?p=172#comment-25563 Neal, as a fellow Christian I would like to be able to know how you feel. Alas, that is not entirely possible. We all sin and fall short of God's glory here on Earth. Perhaps sometimes church bodies can give an impression that do not love everyone. I think that is sad. However, I think the far sadder situation is the ignorance of God's Word and the use of human reason to turn God's Word to support sinful behavior. We should love the sinner, and hate the sin. I sincerely hope you find the peace of God in your life; its not something that will come from human understanding or reason, but it will come from God and his Word to all of us. Blessings on your journey my friend. Perry Lund Neal, as a fellow Christian I would like to be able to know how you feel. Alas, that is not entirely possible. We all sin and fall short of God’s glory here on Earth. Perhaps sometimes church bodies can give an impression that do not love everyone. I think that is sad. However, I think the far sadder situation is the ignorance of God’s Word and the use of human reason to turn God’s Word to support sinful behavior. We should love the sinner, and hate the sin.

I sincerely hope you find the peace of God in your life; its not something that will come from human understanding or reason, but it will come from God and his Word to all of us.

Blessings on your journey my friend.

Perry Lund

]]> By: PAULINE http://www.nealcampbell.com/2009/02/17/tired-of-being-a-broken-christian/#comment-25452 PAULINE Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:24:28 +0000 http://www.nealcampbell.com/?p=172#comment-25452 Thank u 4 ur honesty. i am a methodist minister in Ireland and am in despair cos i cannot take the harshness of the church toward broken people, of which i am one. U made me feel a little less alone tonight! Thank u!!! Pauline lorimer Thank u 4 ur honesty. i am a methodist minister in Ireland and am in despair cos i cannot take the harshness of the church toward broken people, of which i am one. U made me feel a little less alone tonight! Thank u!!!
Pauline lorimer

]]> By: Elmira http://www.nealcampbell.com/2009/02/17/tired-of-being-a-broken-christian/#comment-23156 Elmira Mon, 20 Apr 2009 22:43:29 +0000 http://www.nealcampbell.com/?p=172#comment-23156 I became christian from resent time. From that moment Jesus Christ played a big role in my life. He absolutely changed my life, because if He wasn not, i dont know what way i was gone. Only He could gave me the hope, the real life and the joy in this difficult life! My dear brother in Jesus Christ Neal! I want to tell you that we should act with love and prayers. And God will certenly hear you. Because many people suffer of the lack of love. Today God wants we did the first step to this peaple! God bless you. Your sister in Christ, Elmira from Tajikistan. I became christian from resent time. From that moment Jesus Christ played a big role in my life. He absolutely changed my life, because if He wasn not, i dont know what way i was gone. Only He could gave me the hope, the real life and the joy in this difficult life!
My dear brother in Jesus Christ Neal! I want to tell you that we should act with love and prayers. And God will certenly hear you. Because many people suffer of the lack of love. Today God wants we did the first step to this peaple! God bless you.
Your sister in Christ,
Elmira from Tajikistan.

]]> By: Jamey http://www.nealcampbell.com/2009/02/17/tired-of-being-a-broken-christian/#comment-22358 Jamey Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:19:46 +0000 http://www.nealcampbell.com/?p=172#comment-22358 Wow, thank you Larry for putting into words that I couldn't. God Bless! Wow, thank you Larry for putting into words that I couldn’t. God Bless!

]]> By: Larry Williams http://www.nealcampbell.com/2009/02/17/tired-of-being-a-broken-christian/#comment-22352 Larry Williams Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:19:36 +0000 http://www.nealcampbell.com/?p=172#comment-22352 I think that the Scripture that Sarah pointed to is very appropriate. But, couple that with Mark 4 & the parable of the sower & see the ground representing the condition of the heart & what we plant inside of it. I understand somewhat about the fatigue on the gay/homosexual issues in the church, but only if that focus takes the place of the true gospel, which is pointing people to Jesus Christ. I'm in no way for gay/homosexual behavior, but I do know that God loves them as He loves us & He hates SIN (which, according to His Word, this behavior falls under; fornication, abomination). I think what you're tired of is what all Christians who really stress relationship over legalism desires; being real. We (as Christians) strive to look like above reproach so much, that we seldom focus on what God is really showing us about ourselves that's keeping us from getting closer to Him, so while we're stressing 8 ways to this, 12 keys to that & 20 steps to prosperity, none of those things really center around Jesus Christ & that is where the real fatigue sets in. As far as not being broken, I don't think that it's a bad thing to be broken (based on Mark 4), but I think that the joy should be in the gift of eternal life that we receive by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, as well knowing that these light afflictions don't compare to eternity spent with God. Living life in light of eternity instead of basing it on these clown hucksters that peddle the gospel for attention and/or profit financially. I think that the Scripture that Sarah pointed to is very appropriate. But, couple that with Mark 4 & the parable of the sower & see the ground representing the condition of the heart & what we plant inside of it. I understand somewhat about the fatigue on the gay/homosexual issues in the church, but only if that focus takes the place of the true gospel, which is pointing people to Jesus Christ. I’m in no way for gay/homosexual behavior, but I do know that God loves them as He loves us & He hates SIN (which, according to His Word, this behavior falls under; fornication, abomination). I think what you’re tired of is what all Christians who really stress relationship over legalism desires; being real. We (as Christians) strive to look like above reproach so much, that we seldom focus on what God is really showing us about ourselves that’s keeping us from getting closer to Him, so while we’re stressing 8 ways to this, 12 keys to that & 20 steps to prosperity, none of those things really center around Jesus Christ & that is where the real fatigue sets in. As far as not being broken, I don’t think that it’s a bad thing to be broken (based on Mark 4), but I think that the joy should be in the gift of eternal life that we receive by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, as well knowing that these light afflictions don’t compare to eternity spent with God. Living life in light of eternity instead of basing it on these clown hucksters that peddle the gospel for attention and/or profit financially.

]]> By: Sarah http://www.nealcampbell.com/2009/02/17/tired-of-being-a-broken-christian/#comment-22004 Sarah Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:47:39 +0000 http://www.nealcampbell.com/?p=172#comment-22004 I hear you Neal. I was reading how the sacrfices of our God are a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51?). Lately though I've been broken but without joy which I do not think well for anyone's soul. Still seek the Lord though, you can trust that He will bless that. I hear you Neal. I was reading how the sacrfices of our God are a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51?). Lately though I’ve been broken but without joy which I do not think well for anyone’s soul. Still seek the Lord though, you can trust that He will bless that.

]]> By: Richie in UK http://www.nealcampbell.com/2009/02/17/tired-of-being-a-broken-christian/#comment-21999 Richie in UK Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:21:08 +0000 http://www.nealcampbell.com/?p=172#comment-21999 Hi Neal, saw your tweet on gay people and Christianity. It's great to see you voicing and championing pro-gay Christian rights & spreading love rather than hate. I'm gay (but not at all religious) and it's heart-warming to see there are Christians who don't hate us all. Richie Hi Neal, saw your tweet on gay people and Christianity. It’s great to see you voicing and championing pro-gay Christian rights & spreading love rather than hate. I’m gay (but not at all religious) and it’s heart-warming to see there are Christians who don’t hate us all.

Richie

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