Shouldn't I feel it, too?

[Miss Bobbie]

I've been disenchanted with our church for some time now. I cannot agree with the pastor's views on Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, and the like, and I think the church wastes far too much money. I wanted to remove myself from membership. At that same point in time, my husband announced a call to "preach and teach." He's now a licensed lay minister.

I can't say that this isn't a true calling; only God knows that. But if it's real, shouldn't I feel something too? A friend told me that if Ken was called to preach, I'm called to be a preacher's wife. I don't feel any differently, yet I keep thinking that I should. Meanwhile, I don't see my husband as placing this "calling" at the top of his priorities, and it seems to me that it should be more evident. Ken has (too) many interests and my little brain pan thinks he'd want to forgo a few of them to fully devote himself to the Lord. And that hasn't happened.

I dislike going to church. The music depresses me and I'm tired of the gimmicks. "Turn to your neighbor and say, 'I'm glad you're here.' " We're greeting others as we arrive, and don't need to be prompted in such a manner. I usually nod off in church and get more edification from the Berean Call than from the pulpit.

What's the matter with me??

[mattfivefour]

Maybe there is nothing the matter with you, sis. Maybe the problem is around you, not with you. A church assembly without the true power of the Holy Spirit in its members, where everything proceeds to a form, where there is no excitement of praise and worship, where the breaking of the bread of the Word does not convict, exhort, encourage, enlighten, inform, inspire, correct, empower or enable is a church assembly that has lost its vital, living, daily connection with the Father. If the church is dead or dying and the appointed shepherd either does not care or can not discern the problem, then sometimes you have to leave and join yourself to a body of believers who demonstrate they truly love the Lord in their gathering, their worship, their submission to sound and anointed teaching, and in their obedience in daily living and service.

You say your husband feels he has been called to preach. Perhaps if God has given him a message to preach, it is meant for your current assembly. If he really feels called to proclaim God's Word, the best place to start would be where you all currently worship. But trust me— you will not be loved there for your efforts!!! Yet if God has given him a calling, then that is what he needs to obey and follow, not acceptance with man.

However, focusing on your husband's feeling for a moment— when you are called, sis, it has always been my experience that the "burning" within is so strong that you cannot resist it: Jesus becomes the sole beacon in your life and all else pales by comparison. If your husband feels he is called to preach yet has other things that have equal priority in his life, then I would question the call. I am not saying he is NOT called, because I do not know him and I have not received any revelation on this. But the fruit always reveals the tree.

Hope this helps.

Matt

[Robert Cragg]

Something does not sound right. All I no is prayer is the only answer, I don' know you very well and don't want to upset you but if your in a state of confusion that is of the Devil. If your feeling the way you are about church, that means to me the presence of the Holy Spirit is not there.

[Miss Bobbie]

Matt, Robert -- I agree with both of you, especially "the fruit always reveals the tree." I know from experience that if I try to talk to my husband about this, he'll claim that I have no faith in him. I do my best to submit to him as the spiritual leader of the household, but I don't always believe he is right. And I don't always believe he is stronger than I am. :(

I guess the step I need to take is to lift it up to the Lord!

Thank you, gentlemen. If y'all led my church, I'm sure I wouldn't be snoozing in the pew. ;)

[mattfivefour]

[Robert Cragg]

I should have snapped to this sooner by all the things that are going on, but I know what's going on, the enemy is pouring it on,
we must all stand uo against him.
Someone said when you enter the church and sit down the enemy sits down beside you, don't anyone fear him, if you have a problem with that, Read 2 Timothy 1:7. Good praise and worship music will help to.