Titus Women & Wine

There is a distinct difference between a place where people gather - a building or location, and the Church. The Church is a gathering of people that are in a relationship with God who strive to do good works by serving and loving their neighbors. God set the standard by requiring only one thing for salvation - a relationship with him. He could have created any number of criteria for us to meet but he prioritized relationship above anything we could do for him or in his name.

Read Luke 10:25-28

The health of the church is contingent upon the quality of the relationships that are formed within it. If you have ever had the opportunity to chat with someone who has left a particular church organization for a different one, or you have made that transition yourself, there is a decent chance that it is linked to a breakdown in relationships. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8), His commands are unchanged, and nothing can be added to or taken away from the Word (Proverbs 30: 5-6). Faithful believers who rescind their Church memberships don’t do so because of God, they leave because their needs are not being met, they have been hurt, betrayed, neglected, or no longer trust their leadership. Furthermore, according to the Barna Group "Church hurt" AKA broken relationships is the reason nearly 4 out of 10 (37%) unchurched people avoid church altogether. These issues relate to people, not God.

So, why does Church hurt matter so much? For most women, past traumatic experiences become a barrier to developing trust and intimacy in a new church or engaging in discipleship/mentorship relationships in the future. Many women find that sticking with a small group of friends and supplementing church teaching with podcasts or independent studies is a much safer and more convenient option. The idea of connecting with women you don't know and opening yourself up to rejection or disappointment can be enough to keep any woman from putting herself out there.

- Digging Deeper -

Friendships are wonderful, we need them, but most friendships are not set up to challenge us spiritually, hold us accountable, or strengthen our leadership skills the way that discipleship and mentorship relationships do. While the concepts of discipleship and mentorship are good and most of us can recognize their value, developing and sustaining those relationships can be difficult. Being a Christian does not cancel out our humanity. Difficult personalities, jealousy, interpersonal struggles, criticism, insecurity, depression, anxiety, incompatibility, busyness, and more can jeopardize the formation and fruitfulness of our relationships with other women in the church.

One of the most important aspects of building authentic relationships and community is security. Security is created through trust, mutual respect, unconditional love, healthy boundaries, and consistency. When it comes to groups of women, one of the most critical elements of security is maintaining confidentiality and avoiding gossip. The title of "Titus Woman" is not representative of a membership to an exclusive club, it is an inclusive way of life that centers around the spiritual development and well-being of all women.