Encouragement When You Feel Left Out of the Christian Circle

 

A couple of months ago I found myself taking part in a live webinar that was aimed at helping Christians who do some (or all) of their ministry in the online space. The goal of this event was *supposed* to give lots of encouragement and helpful tips to the webinar attendees, specifically when they speak to people. Now this was meant to include all types of speaking - podcasting, interviews, going live on social media...pretty much any circumstance involving speaking or being part of a live event. 

And it was touted as a way to be more comfortable in this role and in your own skin. 

Because, in all honesty, when doing an interview or guesting on a podcast, running a Facebook live, recording content for a course or for YouTube, can be very awkward. You're either talking to nobody (when you record content for a solo podcast or a course, for example) but also you'll be talking to an unknown number of people when the content is released. Or you're being interviewed or go live on social media, and the other person(s) are there with you in a sense, but you aren't in the same room and you can have slight delays and hiccups due to connection issues, and it can leave you feeling out of place. 

You get the drift as to what this webinar was about. Or, what I thought it was about. 

As the event progressed, an ever-widening gap began to develop between the "haves" and the "have-nots". 

Here's the abbreviated takeaway:

     ~ If you are part of the "in" crowd in the world of online ministry, then you're special. And if you're not part of it, then you're un-special.

     ~ This is an exclusive group, and not all Christians who are doing some sort of ministry in the online space are part of the club. 

     ~ This is an elitist group under the guise of "Christian ministry". 

     ~ This group will gladly take your money and your time and dole out small tidbits of semi-helpful information, while somehow at the same time make sure you know that while your money is good enough for them, you and your ministry most certainly are not and you should count yourself lucky to even be in the same room (albeit a zoom room) with them. 

Now, you may be wondering what this post is doing on a blog for homeschooling moms that shares Bible-based content. 

I decided to share about this experience on this blog because I think this happens quite often in the Christian community. Whether it's a Sunday school class, a small group, a larger event, a prayer group, a church staff meeting, the homeschool co-op, or within the Christian community online, this sense of exclusivity is real. And it is really, really painful.

When we gather together, is there anything we can do that can prevent a newcomer from feeling welcome, growing in grace, understanding more of the Father's love for them, or becoming part of this particular Christian community? 

Or do newcomers feel as if they are being pushed aside or pushed out to the Gentile Court?

Do they leave feeling blessed and encouraged, or discouraged and unwanted?

And a far more personal and pointed question would be this: Have you ever, or do you currently, feel like you are being moved outward toward the Christianized version of the Gentile Court? 

Loving the Lord is not an exclusive, cliquey club. And when someone feels held at bay, I can't help but wonder how that makes the Lord feel. 

My personal prayer as I hit the "leave meeting" button near the end of that webinar was, "Lord, how can I not be part of this painful messiness in my ministry and in my real life?"

(And that's a scary prayer to pray when you're an extreme introvert trying to do a very extroverted type of ministry because you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you often come across as stiff and reserved and unapproachable due to your social awkwardness and introverted nature.)

The Lord seemed to answer my prayer by taking me to John, chapters 15, 16 & 17. 

Reading Jesus' words in these chapters was a soothing balm following the strange webinar event. 

And so, as a Bible study girl who podcasts & speaks & teaches about the Bible, can I encourage you to take some time and read these three chapters, while praying about how to best help newcomers experience the love of God via our church gatherings, small groups, homeschool events and in our own personal ministry opportunities?

I'd very much like to hear your comments and insight on these three chapters from the book of John. Would you share in the comments? I'd be so blessed by that! 

And my closing prayer today is that none of us feels shoved to the outer court, but rather senses the warm welcome and the lavish love our Father has for us. 

Lord bless & I'll see you back here next time!

Psalm 91 - Pray It & Believe Course with Jan L. Burt available now.