Being brought up in the Christian faith was, without doubt, a huge blessing. I'm extremely thankful that I grew up in a church, surrounded by a close community, and having my second home furnished with pews and red carpet. And for the first time, I'm grateful that my faith was shaken, challenged, and turned upside down by events in my life and choices in others'.
The events that led me to where I am now are not important. What is, is the fact that I now find myself raising a family in a church I wanted nothing to do with. A radical church with crazy thoughts and few rules. A church that doesn't focus on the pharisees rules of dos and do nots, but a church that focuses on mercy and abandons religion. For the OCD rule follower in me, I feel like I've been drug against the grain every single Sunday. Hearing the same scriptures that have been taught to me since I was an infant are being presented in a totally different and radical new way. The Jesus way. Jesus had to be one of the biggest rebels and rule breakers of all time! Yet I have spent my life consumed on following the 'rules' of the religion, and have missed the whole idea.
Don't get me wrong, there are rules. But the focus is not on the rules, following the rules, creating new rules to make sure the rules are followed, etc.... the focus is on Jesus. Exactly where it should be. I'm so grateful we are raising our children in this church, surrounded by a family that lives out His life, not our rules. I'm relieved that I don't have to act perfect, and that playing the Foo Fighter's in church doesn't require a committee to review our faith and actions. ;)
