Cliques

"Cliques in churches can be a good thing."

This is a whole new concept for me. i've always been taught that cliques are bad, especially in churches. i was taught that a church body should learn together, fellowship together, and serve together. i was taught that things like Sunday school, youth group, or children's time are unnecessary, and sometimes distracting, man-made inventions that don't belong in a healthy church. This is what i was taught, so it was what i believed. It made sense. Until today.

My church doesn't teach that at all, but i still never thought i would hear a pastor say that he thinks cliques are good things. i was completely shocked! But while everyone else went back to the subject we had been discussing, i started thinking about it. And ya know what? He's right. Cliques can be a good thing. What i love most about my church is that there is group of people that are at the same place in life as me, that i can share my relationship with God, with them. i love that we meet every week as a group to share whats going on in our lives, pray for each other, learn about God and what He's teaching each of us. It's an incredible experience, and one thing that makes it so great is that it's a cliques, its a group of people that are going thru some of the things i am, things other people might not understand cause they either haven't gone thru, or have forgotten what it was like.

i like mingling with other people in my church, i like learning whats going on in their lives and what God is doing for them. But my group is my safe place, my comfort zone. It's good to get out and meet new people, but my class is my home.

The last church i was in didn't have those relationships, that i saw. That doesn't mean they aren't there, i just didn't see them. They did everything together, so there wasn't much of an opportunity for those relationships to develop. We were friends, we didn't talk about God, our walk with Him, or church stuff very much. Almost never really. Whats sad is that i knew what i wanted, i wanted a brother/sister in Christ relationship with people my age. At that church there isnt' a defined youth group, or singles group. Everyone just mixes, which can be great cause i've gotten to know people both older and younger than me. But i didn't have those people that i could confide in, and that would help me grow in my relationship with Christ. This is as much my fault as anyone else. Maybe more. i knew what i desperately wanted, and i didnt' try to build it there. i just left. i know my church is where i belong, don't misunderstand me. But i do wish i had at least tried. Instead i just quit. For that i'm sorry.

But im so grateful that God has given me a group like this one! The time i spend with them is like nothing else, its so incredible to support, and encourage each other. Praying together, and for each other is key, i think. It really makes a difference. We're not just friends, we're sharing our walk with God with each other. The only thing missing is my best friend, and then it would be perfect :)