Whosoever who? Whosoever ME??

Note to my readers: I was scribbling down some thoughts for my book today after an amazing service and interview with a group of women last night. I’m still processing some of those things in my heart and mind, but I wanted to share a few thoughts from last night. Thanks again for reading my snippets. JKM

"I felt like a foreigner. While I was living in the [church] culture, I never really felt like I was a part of it... It always felt like I was on the outside looking in, and I would never really be part of that group. I was so frustrated… until I found Whosoever."((Paraphrased))

-Debra Gloria in response to my question about her feelings associated with the church at large, Whosoever Dallas Member

In the Christian portion of journey, I have started with a group of people who are very different from anything I have experienced. The Christian church has such a wide spectrum of church “bodies” (the individual congregations, but still united under the “Christian” banner).

It can vary from as “conservative” as women and men sitting separately, and the women not wearing makeup or pants to as “liberal” as female pastors of primarily gay and lesbian congregations.

It is fascinating to me to see the portions of scripture they emphasize, the attributes of God that they embrace, the personal level of devotion and zeal of the members from all ends of the spectrum.

Since I came from one of the more conservative levels, I decided to start my Christian study on the other end of the spectrum, with a less conservative group of Christians. I decided to start my Christian study in a group I was only vaguely familiar with, and didn’t know any of the members, so I could get a very fresh and original perspective.

Last night I spent some time with a group of Christians unlike any group of Christians I have been around before. Going into a new place, there is always trepidation, always a sense of wondering if you will be accepted, if you will be seen. When I walked into Whosoever Dallas last night with my note pad and my tape recorder, I wasn’t expecting what I found.

Whosoever Dallas (proper noun):A group of individuals who have come together with the purpose of going to make disciples, of reaching their community for Christ, of exemplifying Christ’s love in the community around them. Ex: Whosoever Dallas is the most open, accepting, loving Christian congregation I have ever visited.(definition mine)

Mission: We have been Changed to bring Change.

((Change? I thought it was a dirty word!))

There are a lot of churches who site John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" claiming that this is their foundational belief.

((“Claim” being the operative word.))

“Whosoever” at other churches, in my experience,  meant…

WHOSOEVER believes what we believe and
WHOSOEVER acts like we act and
WHOSOEVER speaks our language and
WHOSOEVER follows blindly a script of Christianese and
WHOSOEVER lives in a box of infinitesimal proportions.

Somehow, I don’t think is was God’s intention that such a small group fall into that "whosoever" category. Somehow, I don’t think that “whosoever” is an exclusive term, on the contrary, it is quite Inclusive.

And, even though this is a Christian church, Whosoever Dallas, has the same idea as I do… that what God REALLY meant when he said “Whosoever believes in me” was “WHOSOEVER believes in me.”

Anyone, anytime, anywhere.

So how about the random ((girl)) showing up at a Whosoever Dallas meeting with about 2 dozen people in attendance with tape recorder in hand? Do I still count as “whosoever”?

Apparently.

***

I believe that... Love must be personal to be real.

My parents can’t convey their love for God to me, I must love him in a way unique to me.

Loving with abandon is ecstasy.

And by abandon, I mean abandoning the “should’s” and the “supposed to’s.”

I mean talking to God in your own language, and relating to him the way he made you to.

It is our nature as humans to Hope and to Love.

Seeking God, pursuing love, learning trust - these are natural yearnings of the human heart.

God is ((LOVE)).