@ my christian friends who are trying to faithfully attend their local churches but have opinions/identities/understandings that often isolate them from other believers
there is room for you in the body of christ. jesus didn't reach you by accident or forget to leave you a seat at the table.
there is room for disagreement in the body of christ. god is vast, and we may take different routes to plumb the depths of his heart. we will be correct on things while others are wrong, and we will be wrong where others are correct. we are children trying to fathom particle physics. it's okay. be humble, but be bold.
god understands if church is not a safe place for you to be. sometimes, unfortunately, we have backgrounds that make church hard. keep seeking the lord, be open to his leading, try to find christian community where you can. remember that you are still part of the body even if you claim no particular membership. you are not divorced from communion.
be patient with your brothers and sisters. we are all works in progress, and it takes iron to sharpen iron. we collide, and we change.
there are good, godly people in your local body with whom you can share your heart. i live in the absolute buckle of the bible belt (deep american south) and some of the things i believe and value are... unpopular. however, i have found people in the body who love and cherish my heart, even if they do not understand it, and i have found those with whom i have common understanding. spirit sings to spirit, the same spirit animates all of us.
disagreement is not a always threat, it's a chance for all parties to learn.
seek to serve your local church. we want the church to do for us, and it can and will, but our ultimate fulfillment is in the cycle of giving-and-receiving. think of your own body: its coexistence, with all parts receiving and giving in equal measure.
fight bitterness, resentment, and despair at every turn. yes, this body is broken. yes, this body is christ's. do not give up on the bride.
