I was raised going to church every time the doors were open and attending church remained, for the most part, an important aspect of my adult life as well. But a couple of years ago I found myself not only without a church that I felt I could call home but without much desire to go, even if I did. I had spiritually stagnated; and I was fine with that. I visited a few churches now and then, including Central when friends invited me to see their Christmas program but most Sundays found me at home on the couch. This past fall my conscious began to get the better of me, after all my momma didn't raise me to sleep in on Sundays, and I decided it was time to get back in church.
I have friends that attend Central, and it’s a beautiful building, the music is wonderful, the folks friendly and I thought if I’m going to go somewhere it might as well be here. Now, while I did grow up in church it was not the Methodist church, in fact I knew little about Methodism, and I thought perhaps I should read up on John Wesley and find out just what was this method of his. The more I read about Wesley and his teachings the more I realized that my life was not what it should be. Here was a man striving for spiritual perfection while I was happy not being the worst person I knew. My coming back to church had been for comfort and familiarity not for a longing for spiritual renewal, and yet that’s what I found in the example of the life of John Wesley. Paul tells the church at Corinth to follow his example as he followed the example of Christ. A Godly example can make the difference between just going through the motions and being fully engaged in following Christ. I have a long way to go on my spiritual journey, but it is my heart felt prayer that someday I can, like Paul, unabashedly tell others to follow my example. Will you be an example of Christ for others?
Written by Chad Spurling
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