Thursday, January 15, 2015

31 Days: Painting With a Wide Brush

So, have you decided where you would choose to raise your family of five? Makes you feel like throwing the church under the bus about now and saying, does it even matter what church you go to?? Why do we even bother?

I hope you realize I am painting the picture with a very wide brush here. I know full well that not every Mennonite falls completely into the "Rules" side or the "Heart" side. Still, the whole traditional Mennonite mindset has taken over our minds and affected us more than we realize or want to admit! Take it from someone who didn't even grow up in a church with written standards who could hardly get herself to wear something other than black shoes to church Sunday mornings; it affects us.

Subconsciously we gauge our rightness with God by how well we are keeping the "to do list". It easily becomes not about what God thinks of what we are doing, but about whether we've checked everything on the checklist and if we've checked everything off? We're fine! I'm telling you, it messes with our minds! And it skews our understanding of law vs grace.

But, enough of that, maybe you would like to hear how we came to a decision about where we wanted to raise our family of five?

4 comments:

Kim said...

Please continue! I have been enjoying this very much. I attend a small Mennonite church off and on, but have not committed to joining. Your insight has been helpful

Anonymous said...

I like the new header :)

Bethany Eicher said...

Honored, Kim. And glad you're enjoying it :)

Bethany Eicher said...

Thanks Jo! :)