Clearly an issue

There are many different issues the church faces. Issues that divide the church, whether it's sexuality, alcohol, praise, or any other number of things. However, there is one issue that I believe that stands above the rest. I'll get to that in a bit but first let me tell you some more about me.It wasn't until my Sophomore year at Kent State University that my faith finally started to become real. Well that's where it started but the real transformation wasn't until the summer between Sophomore and Junior year. I was attending a campus church at  Kent State and had the opportunity to go to Virginia Beach for a summer to work and, more importantly, learn more about God and my relationship with Him. That will definitely be the summer that changed my life forever. There was many things I learned that summer, but most importantly, was that I wasn't worse that other Christians, nor was I any better. This step came to me as I sat in a coffee shop across a table from one of my favorite mentors, Chad Frank. For the first time in my life, I poured out my life, and my sins, to a friend and brother in Christ. As we talked, I finally realized that I was never meant to carry this burden alone. I had read James 5:16 before but never took it to heart. Turns out that God didn't include that in the Bible just for anyhow. When He told us to confess our sins to each other, it was for excellent reason. The need for transparency in a church is huge.This is what I see missing in many churches and many relationships today. This need for transparency is huge for the church to be able to thrive as God intended it to. One of the biggest reason I think transparency is important is that we are helping each other to carry our burdens. The church in Acts shared everything, food, money, ect... and I"m pretty sure they shared their struggles too. When we talk to others about the things in our life we are struggling with, we open up communication with people who, not only can see it from a different perspective, but allows God to speak into your life verbally through someone else. This alone is a huge reason that transparency is necessary in the Body of Christ. When I was going through school and attending H2O (my college church), sharing my burdens meant I was real with someone, they knew me, and they challenged me, daily, in my relationship with Christ. I had to, however, intentionally seek those relationships with the men at church that I attended. It was on me to be open and honest. I was on me to be transparent enough for them to see through me. The second reason, and maybe as big of a reason transparency is important, is what it does to our mindset of others. One HUGE things that happened to me as a result of intentional transparency with others is the lack of condemnation that came from that. As I built those relationships  within the church, I didn't receive condemnation from the people. I received love and support. I also realized that there were things in their lives that they were struggling with. Turns out, everyone has something they are struggling with or struggle with at times. No on in the church is perfect. When we are willing to share our lives, we lose our ability to judge others. When I talked to my friend Bob about my struggle with pornography, he could relate because he struggles with telling dirty jokes to his friends at work. We then have an opportunity to minister into each other's lives. This is what the church is about. Not a place to come to, act as if we have it all together, raise our hands in praise, take notes on a sermon, and return home. It has got to be a place we share life, where we cultivate relationships that minister to each other. To often churches are a place where we go to put on our mask of "righteousness" (if you look it is not part of the armor of God) and pretend everything is ok. News Flash - The Church is not free from sin - We have got to stop acting like it is. Take off the mask and start to live as the church of Acts did, in communion with each other in life. My challenge to you is to start the step of transparency. I'm not asking you to stand in front of the church and talk about your struggles like an amazing friend of mine did. (Unless God is calling you to that). I'm not even asking you to tell your small group. Maybe you need to start with one close friend. Be open and honest with them. Allow the to see threw you and what's going on in your life. Allow them to know your struggles and open your life to them. You will be amazed what God has in store for you.As always, email or comment with questions, comments, or concerns. Either on this page or at optimisticprime15@gmail.com. If you have anything you would like prayer for, please let me know. I"d be more than willing to pray with you and for you. I urge you to find that person you can talk to. If you are more willing with a perfect stranger, talk to me for now. I love you already and there is nothing you can do about it. With God's love,Optimistic Prime. Dear God,Thank you for the ability to write these words and for your grace in my life. Thank you for the people you have put in my life that allow me to be transparent and to help carry burdens and that minister into my life. Thank you for putting words on my heart and I pray you move in the lives of those who read these words and that you bless their relationship. Optimistic Prime