What If You Do Need Groups?

It’s been 5 years since I left the old church. Along the way I’ve discovered that I needed more than to detox from the old church but also from the Christian culture. (Not gonna go into that now since I’ve hashed all that out in former posts.) But now that I think I’m done detoxing, I’ve realized that what I’m really done with is church! Ha! Not completely and forever, but done with the obligation to go to church in order to keep my relationship with Jesus alive. Like I’ve said in earlier posts, I’m free to come and go as I please. Perhaps I’ve learned self governance along the way in rebuilding my personal relationship with the Lord, so I no longer seem to need the church dynamic to keep it alive.

Part of why I don’t need church, though, is because, personality-wise, I really don’t need groups. I wasn’t in groups in high school or in college. I'm not a loner, but just don't seem to thrive in groups. They hamper my creative energy. But, I do have a good support system of family and friends whose company I enjoy. In a sense they are my (informal) group.

But what if your personality type is such that you DO thrive in groups? If so, then a good healthy church is a good place for you. But don't limit yourself to just a church. With your type of personality, your light can really shine in other places where people congregate. My guess is that a healthy you will care for those people while you are getting something good from the group yourself. That's good for you, for 'them' and for the cause of Christ.

Since you come alive and produce fruit in groups, you may especially need to set personal safeguards to make sure you don’t let a group take your life over and become your identity. When you are spending your time in groups check yourself every so often to see if that group is becoming too much for you. By now you have hopefully read up on the warning signs, the red flags, that tell you whether you are in a healthy group or not. Maintain your individuality and ask questions freely when you wonder about something. If you resist letting a group define you, then you are free to walk away at any point if and when you find out it’s dysfunctional.

Part of the detox phase of healing is discovering what makes you tick and how to best thrive as you go forward. What works for one may not work for another. Just saying to stay sensitive to your own inner needs and what motivates you.

Groups or no group, just remember there is One who sticks closer than a brother through it all and He has your best interest in mind. You were created the way you are for a reason so don’t fight it. Simply go with the flow and live your life in freedom, abundantly.