Turning Points In Spiritual Growth May 21, 2018 Issue

Why I love Church—at last

Jennifer Ann Gordon

I had experienced some big challenges in my work for my branch Church of Christ, Scientist, and wondered if I could continue. I felt utterly brokenhearted. I was angry, distrustful, and hurt, and I did not want to bring those emotions into my church. So I stopped participating until I could understand what was right for me to do. 

I prayed for more than a year. I loved God and didn’t want to withdraw my membership in my branch church if He wanted me to continue, but I didn’t see how I could continue. I needed to regroup, and ultimately decided that it was best to officially withdraw my membership. Instead of feeling guilty, I felt a tangible sense of God’s patient, tender love, and I trusted that He would show me the way.

During this hiatus from branch church membership, I prayed to understand what Christly willingness looks like. I knew that desiring a wonderful church, including a wonderful Christian Science Reading Room and Sunday School, wasn’t enough. We need to actually be willing to follow Christ—to let go of old beliefs and a proprietary sense of church and do the metaphysical work required. 

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