For many of us, we attach that to a church. It is our place of connecting with God and community among others of like mind. At least, that is what we tell ourselves.  But sometimes that is not where you get unconditional love and support. If you are retaliated against when you don't comply to a set of expectations or rules, then I'd say that it's definitely not. You might justify it to yourself but ask someone who is sick and they haven't seen their church family. Or somebody who is a devoted tither and instead of receiving from the storehouse, they are told they can get a church loan. It's those times that beg us to question. 

 

Rather than turn this into pointing fingers or a support group for church hurt victims, I will say this. You need to establish a community that welcomes you as you. It's out there just waiting for you to discover it. How do I find it?, you might ask. With me, it started when I stopped excusing myself for giving more than I received. I was subjecting my soul to suffering.  And too, as a good steward of my time, my talent and my resources, I am responsible to invest more wisely. One does not keep investing in a stock that does not appreciate. 

 

When I decided to acknowledge that I deserved more, I began to attract others of like mind. I have a wonderful natural and virtual empowering community. As busy as my friends are, if I call them and say "I need," they will send me support. Not only that, they invite me into their safe company. It's not about compliance, it's about relationship. It's not to extort, it is for shared giving and shared receiving. You, my friends, can have the same.  You deserve the same.