Worship 'Round the Table: Be Literal ... and Light!

On Sunday, July 24, Kristin shared with us some strong feelings about authenticity, and how the Church and our culture have made it difficult to be ourselves. We’ve been made to feel separate from God, ashamed, and afraid to pursue being the authentic individuals we are – the people God wants us to be. Here are some thoughts from members of the congregation.

How do I become more authentic?

Group #1

1. It's important to be honest and true, but have some sort of filter between brain and lips. In other words, “say what you mean, but don’t say it mean.”
2. Don’t let the “busyness” of life cut out my quiet time with God when I can process events and get centered.
3. Have a dedicated time each day to get quiet and listen.
4. Don’t confuse authenticity with perfection. Remember that God loves us exactly as we are.
5. Be willing to be more vulnerable and transparent about what’s going on inside us.
6. Be OK with being less confident.
7. Discover the unique, divine, inner gift that we can express with other.
8. Take time to meditate and allow God to enter our hearts.

Group #2

1. Be open about our personal flaws, failings, and short comings.
2. Admit when I am wrong and do not know something.
3. Reject the need for external approval.
4. Be humble and vulnerable.
5. Be open-hearted (much easier to do in a safe, loving environment).
6. Share our values with others.

Group #3

1. Be willing to expose our feelings.
2. Find a safe, loving, and supporting environment where we can open our hearts.
3. Be authentic to Christ.
4. Remember that God often has a different plan than the one we’ve created in our heads.
5. God often puts us in places to form and humble us.
6. How do we deal with shame?

How do I deal with shame?

Group #1

1. Face shame by sharing it with others in a healing environment without the fear of judgement.
2. Process shame in the presence of God by journaling or confessing it.
3. Speak it rather than denying it and pretending it doesn’t exist.
4. Accept God’s grace.

Group #2

1. Speak our shame and tell our story to others.
2. Invite others to speak their pain without diminishing, blaming, or problem-solving.
3. Reach out to a safe community.

Group #3

1. Openly communicate our feelings to others.
2. Listen to others and affirm their feelings.
3. Get men more involved so they participate more in church.
4. Be with people who think differently than we do.