Christian Fellowship for Introverts

As someone who has always been a "loner" by personality and (usually) preference, I struggle with the fact that the Bible speaks so much about the necessity of fellowship and assembly.

These verses feel so convicting to me:

• They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)
• And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)
• speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:19)
• Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

And the one that I really struggle with...

• Be hospitable to one another without complaint. (1 Peter 4:9)

So I can't even complain about it? LOL

I have no problem with being kind and hospitable. I will welcome almost anyone into my home. I just don't want to have to constantly entertain them. I'm pretty much like, Come on in and make yourself at home and I'll be in my room if you need me.

And then Peter has to remind me to not only be hospitable but to do so without complaint...

You know that verse runs through my mind every time I make some excuse not to commune with someone! That happens a lot now that I live in this very friendly and communal-atmosphere of a 55+ building. I think that most older people are retired or lonely and in need of company. Constantly. I feel bad, but I really do usually feel physically bad. When I do feel okay, I want to do all the things I wasn't able to during my sick days. Hanging out and idly chit-chatting is not one of the things I want to do.

This sounds horrible, but one of the reasons I don't attend church regularly is because it's so social. I think that if I could just go, hear the message, get something out of the message, then leave, I'd be okay. Instead, almost every church I've ever attended, fellow members want to chat before and after the service. And there's always a 'thing' - a luncheon or dinner or some other extra-service get-together. After about 10 minutes of idle chatter (or trying to avoid it), I just feel so worn down. And I also feel bad.

When I meditate on the Christian life, I often wonder if it's wrong for me to be so adverse to a lot of socializing? Even when I wasn't saved, I didn't like to over-socialize. I had to drag myself to company parties and functions and I'd leave as soon as I could without appearing rude. I never even liked being in nightclubs and bars much.  If I did go to those places, it was with a one or two friends and I kept to myself and my little group. There was no rabble-rousing, inviting other bar patrons to the table, or joining theirs.

My best friend is the one person who gets my introverted nature. She's a lot like me but she does get out more - especially for church and church functions. She teases me that I just don't like to join in the reindeer games!

Here's the thing: I don't mind small gatherings. Very small. The other night, I went to a Bible study/prayer get-together a neighbor hosts for people dealing with disabilities. I've either been too sick or too fatigued to make it before. I went and had a good time. I was truly blessed by the other two women who happened to be very sweet and kind and understanding. The atmosphere was comfortable because it was just 3 of us. That I can handle. If there had been five or more of us, my social anxiety would have kicked in.

I'm curious what other Christians think of this. Is it okay to be an introvert or do I need to work on being more social? I guess that's something I need to be praying about.

Peace
--Free



P.S.:  Just as I was finishing out this post,  I found this over on GotQuestions.Org and know that I need to pray about my personality...

Important Message

No words. Just watch the video and make a choice. (Warning: while I have reviewed these videos & made sure that there are no hidden doctrinal messages, be aware that the maker of them IS a Seventh Day Adventist. If you check out his other videos, just make sure that you pray for discernment and watch for the agenda of that particular sect.)



Now, what is your choice?

All These Things...

(8) Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. (9) And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." (Matthew 4:8-9)

I received that verse via the email verse-a-day I have subscribed to.

(Before I go on, let me do this: You can find the verse and the message here at The Berean. I just LOVE the site! I have to go and study their message for the day, but the verse alone brought many things to mind for me that I want to share with you.)

You all know that I have a concern about the different media I expose myself to: music, television shows, websites, etc. One of the reasons I try to be very careful about what I absorb through these avenues of "entertainment" or distraction is that I worry about the messengers involved. I don't know anymore what to think about some of the music artists out there. I want to think that most of them are simply talented people expressing themselves through their art - the same way I try to do through my writing. I don't know if that is true of a lot of artists. When I look at their public behavior, when I pay attention to the messages in their lyrics and in their videos... I really don't know what to think. And, for some of them, I wonder what their true motivation is. 

When I see many of the "hot" artists out there, I notice that they are very, very wrapped up in their materialistic image. They try so very hard to be "cutting edge" with the way they dress and otherwise express themselves. It's so often not just about their music anymore. So... What is their motivation? What really drives them? And if they are motivated by the wrong things, how much of that affects the listener, viewer or (for the die-hards) fan?

I think about how much energy has to go into what most performers do - not just on stage or in a studio, creating a product - but all the other stuff. And I wonder what drives that drive, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I can get off the famous people and look at "regular" people I know. When someone is very driven by materialism, where does their spiritual life come in? If you, for example, pledge your heart and soul to the Lord, how much of you is there left to worry about having the latest car, the biggest house, the most "bling"? How much of you is left to celebrate your life as a Christian if your material life consumes you to such a degree?

I guess I am thinking of the teaching about serving two masters.

Going back to the verse that I opened this post with, I wonder how many people have decided to take Satan up on his offer? And I'm not talking about people participating in dark ceremonies, joining secret societies, etc. (I'm am sure that happens too, but...) I'm talking about people who have wished for or said in their hearts what they would give to ... (take your pick) ... be more successful, have more fame or money, or whatever it is.

I'm just hoping that as a Christian, I remain faithful and on my guard against Satan's whispers. And anyone who has been through tough times will know what I mean. Satan will catch us at a low point in life and tempt us with lots of things...

•  Why be honest about everything? What has being honest (or faithful, or kind, or patient, etc) gotten you?
• Go ahead and give up. God has let you sink this low, why not just give up?
• Nobody loves you the way you are. Change and be something different so that people will pay attention to you.
• Next time don't be so nice. See what being nice got you this time.
• "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."

When I feel tempted, I have to remind myself that if Satan has so much to give, why does he have to whisper to me. I also remind myself that life here is so very, very temporary. So, no thanks, Satan. I think I'll hold out for something a little more permanent that riches or fame or being a pretty face on a magazine cover.

Peace

--Free