Spiritual Parasites

I've been hearing people recently, saying things along the lines of, "There's 2 kinds of people: people who are spiritual parasites, and people who are spiritual givers. In other words, you come to church to get fed (metaphorically) by God's word and by good music, and by "loading your troubles" on others, or you come to church to to be a blessing to the church.

I hate this concept. First off, wanting to "get fed" -to learn about God, what others understand about God, and to want to be filled with a peace that you have been having a hard time feeling all week, but know you can feel at church, that is NOT a negative thing! Many people spend all week stressing and exhausting themselves. It's not healthy, but they do. Sunday is what they live for. Going to church. No other obligations. Just getting there, and letting God do the rest. And no one comes to "load troubles." But they may come to seek help. After all, if you don't have anyone at church to share your troubles with; to ask for prayer from, then there may be no one.

The statement about spiritual parasites is judgemental. Everyone lives a different life. Everyone has different struggles and different ways of coping with struggles. Hypothetically speaking, if I spend six days a week giving to the world around me, solving peoples' problems, showing love, encouraging others, etc., then I should be able to rely on coming to church on Sunday, and focusing solely on listening to God. If I feel led by God to do so, I should be able to sit on a pew and read my Bible without feeling judged by laymen for not walking around and greeting newcomers. And I should know that the people in the church are there for me. There is nothing like feeling like absolutely no one in the world understands or wants to understand you- not even at church.

I should not feel obligated by people in the church, to help out with Sunday School or behind-the-scenes work. It's between myself and God. Personally, I LOVE helping the church. I work with the teens, and I'm learning how to walk around, talking to people I don't know. But I also know what it is to be emotionally zapped. I know what it's like to get to church- my only refuge, and feel like all I want to do is sit in the pew and pray or read my Bible. People don't come to be judged for not giving more. If they can't give, and only take, that should be recognized as a need.

It's like the story of Mary and Martha. One sister cleaned, the other sat and listened to Jesus. The one who was cleaning, complained that the other wasn't helping, but Jesus said that she was doing what she was supposed to be doing.

But I've heard people complain about people who come to church to be "fed" spiritually, and especially, about people who share their troubles. These people complain that it's distressing to always have to listen to other peoples' troubles. But if listening to them is depressing you because all they talk about is how hard life is, it's because they are overwhelmed. If it's hard for you to hear it, how hard must it be for them to live it? Come on! Don't judge them; Encourage them!

Eventually, if you give to them, they will be able to overcome their struggles, and perhaps then, they can "give" to others. Or perhaps what you learn through their depressing talk or through your own positive reaction tho them is something you need to learn, and is in effect, an important lesson from God, even a gift from God, through them, to you. NO ONE should be defined a "spiritual parasite." In truth, the concept is conceited. Honestly. And I'm sorry if that offends you, but I'm saying it anyway. We can learn or gain something from everyone. Stop judging, and encourage them. Encourage them through their trials, and encourage them to find strength in becoming more involved, if you feel so led. But encourage them!