To Go or Not to Go To Church

To go or not to go to church... that question has been a hard one for me for 10-plus years now. I grew up a preacher's kid, and I had been involved in church all of my life. As I grew older and, in my thoughts, wiser, I started to see backstage a bit. And what I noticed, I did not like.

I didn't just like the hypocrisy of seeing individuals say one thing, but do another. I did not just like the legalism or judgmental attitude of others. Over time, I settled into a mindset that I might have a fantastic stroll with God and a relationship with Jesus as long as I saved each my quiet time and my prayer life alive... so long as I did it my way.

Do you're feeling like that? Are you currently in this mindset?

Sometimes, I would enterprise out and visit a church here and there. But I by no means felt fully comfortable with one side or another. There was always one thing that I allowed to keep me away.

Through the years, I also used other excuses to not attend church: I used to be tired after a long week of work or that I needed to spend time with my family. However I never used these excuses when it was one thing I needed to do, like go work out on the gym zzzzz02 or take a vacation.

Basically, I had used one excuse or one other to not get entangled in any church.

What I lastly came to realize and perceive is that behind my own curtain, I used to be being a hypocrite too. Yes, I admit it! Behind my own curtain, I was judging others for his or her attitudes or for what they'd done or not done.

This is the reality: everybody has issues. Each church has issues. Church buildings are run by people. And persons are people, and people are sinners, myself included.

The difference between them and me was easy: they were at least attempting to watch fellowship with other Christians and to serve the Lord.

It really started to weigh on me virtually a 12 months ago. I have to adjust my angle and drop my hypocrisy and get involved.

Now that I am actively involved in a church, I nonetheless see folks doing and saying things that I don't essentially agree with. Or they could do one thing that I'd deal with differently. And I am a hundred% certain that some would say the very same factor about me. The difference now, however, is 2-fold:

I realize that I am not excellent both, and I'm one hundred% sure that people will not like the way I say issues or deal with issues at times.
The value of fellowship and friendship is each comforting and good for my non secular soul. Not only can I speak with those who need assistance, I can discuss with those that may also help me.
When beforehand I acted on my own-coping with the hardships of life all by myself-I now have many Christian brothers and sisters who've my back. There are consolation in numbers!