As a child, I grew up in the Seventh-day Adventist church. I was conceived by Adventist parents and was also dedicated and baptised into the Seventh-day Adventist church. I always loved God and am grateful that He died on the cross for us and has given us the promise of Salvation. As a child, I still remember vividly, writing songs about God’s love and playing ‘church barbies’ on Sabbath with my sister. I wanted to share the love of God with as many people as I could. I began ministering as a young girl to our neighbours, family friends and other children. I was a determined child and was not embarrassed or afraid to share the Christian hope to anyone that I would meet.
My Father was impressed by God to study Theology and at the age of fifteen I became the daughter of a Pastor. A few years later it became apparent to me that members of the congregation began calling me ‘PK, Pastor’s kid and the Pastors daughter.’ Instead of bothering to learn my name, these labels where involuntarily placed upon me. All my actions began to echo my father the Pastor, rather than the child I am in Jesus Christ. I felt harshly judged and jokes from my peers became hurtful at my expense. I was no longer Rochelle or Shelly, instead I was the Pastor’s kid. I was worried I would taint my father’s image and sure enough some people believed I had. Rumours regarding, my dress sense and the use of make-up and jewellery worn to church became a controversial topic between some church members. My mother and my attendance level was monitored by church members to judge how ‘supportive’ we were of my father.
I felt that a lot of members in the church were no longer concerned with my salvation and my relationship with God, but rather how well I represented the Seventh-day Adventist church as a Pastor’s child. I was no longer a person, but a certain image that needed weekly examination. Expectations were not only put on me but also on my entire family as to how we were expected to behave. Was I dressed appropriately? Did I attend all church functions? Was I happy enough? Was I friendly enough? Nobody should be subject to that scrutiny. I would like to confirm that over my life I have had wonderful and supportive people from the Seventh-day Adventist church close to me.
Unfortunately, the voices of other people began to get louder and louder and eventually they began to stick. I began to attend church irregularly and when I did I felt insecure and worried about what I would say and how I should act. How can anyone worship their Saviour in peace like that? Is this how God has called us to worship?
I then came to the realisation that we come to church for God and we are all on our own spiritual journey. It can be difficult struggling through your own adversities whatever they may be, but God is on your side!
‘But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?’ ~ Matthew 5:44-46
In Matthew 18:3, Jesus told His people to be like little children.
‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’
When I think about children, I think about wide-eyed, innocent and accepting human beings. We need to be like little children; that is what Jesus has asked of us. Imagine a church that is all accepting, all honest and non-judgemental. Jesus was not concerned about the clothes people wore or the way they talked or even the way they acted, He just accepted them. He told Zacchaeus the lying, and cheating tax collector that He was going to his house for lunch. Jesus was not concerned about these superficial things. So why are we? Do these things affect our relationship with God or our fellow church members? They shouldn’t.
Each person is on their own spiritual journey with God and they are all entirely different. I do not claim to be perfect, non-judgmental and all accepting. But I encourage all people including myself to be as Jesus asked, more like little children.
AUTHOR: Rochelle Ward, attends Nambour Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Qld Conference.