I coordinate an email discussion once a month with friends and family. I usually come up with some wacky questions and email it to everyone to see what their opinions are. It's a great way to learn about my friends and family and why they view things the way they do.
Last month was one of the harder ones. If you're interested in this kind of information about me, read the comment to this post were I will provide my response to last month's topic. As always, comments are welcome.
The topic: Why do you attend or not attend church services regularly?
3 comments:
Prior to College, I always looked at Church as a chore. I went because I had too. I did not think about church or church related topics during the week. None of my school friends went to church, so I also had no social network at church. Sundays meant that I couldn't eat breakfast, I couldn't sleep in, and I got very little out of the actual church service. As far as I was concerned, Sunday mornings were boring and had very little bearing on the rest of my week or my life in general. But I was also young and didn't really make an effort to understand what was be talked about. I kind of assumed that attending church was just one of the things I had to DO to stay Christian.
In college, I never really planned to attend church. I went a couple times my freshman year and that was about it. After I met Keli, I started attending her church occasionally. Again, it was more of an inconvenience than something I looked forward to. I had to dress nice, I couldn't sleep in (sleep seems to be a priority with me), and I never really got much out the service. I was always looking at my watch waiting for it to be over. Again, I didn't make much of an effort to understand what was being said, or try to get to know the people at that church.
I know this sounds bad, and I hope Mom-B and Mom-F don't take offense. Most of my issue with attending church was that I didn't really connect with what was being said. I hadn't made any decision on whether what was being said was true or false. The occasional sermon would catch my interest, but for the most part, I was pretty skeptical about what was being said. I was also never involved with the church community in any way other than being in the same building with them one or two hours out of every week. When I walked out the door, I didn't expect to see or talk to any of the church members until the next week.
After Keli and I got married, Church was more about "Keeping the Peace" than anything. My wife was a Christian, and rightly assumed that it was important to attend church. But there was a slight twist this time. Keli wanted us to be involved more than just attending Sunday services. We started helping with the youth group program. I was still skeptical and, for the most part, considered church activities as a minor annoyance. I did enjoy helping with the youth group, and this also helped us establish a few relationships outside of Sunday services. However, we eventually found that particular church to be less than what we were hoping for and stopped attending. Part of the reason we departed was because of a rather nasty church split and some of the infighting that took place during that time.
Then came the whole baby thing and another motivation to find a church to call our own. Keli decided to find another church that we could start attending, but one that had a more active community, and that had a strong Bible focus. I went along for the ride in order to "Keep the peace". This time things turned out a bit differently. The people at the church took an interest in Keli and I and seemed to genuinely care about us, even though they didn't know us very well. We started helping in the nursery and got to know a few more people. The music was enjoyable (although I can carry a tune in a pail). The sermon's were very well thought out and it was very easy to see how Biblical principles applied to every day living, even if I wasn't so sure yet that the Bible was entirely trustworthy.
At the time, I was also having some pretty severe personal struggles (sorry, not details). I decided to reach out to the pastor and see if he had any sage advice or wisdom to help me. I got way more than I bargained for and ended up joining him and two other seminary students on a weekly basis to talk about theology, Bible topics, and any other topic they thought to bring up. Most of it went over my head, but I also got chances to pose questions and offer arguments on why I thought this whole Christian enterprise seemed more like a bunch of wishful thinking. To my surprise, they didn't just smack the Bible and say "The Bible says it's true, so it must be true" (circular logic if you didn't spot it). They took the time to understand what I was trying to say, then offered logical arguments on why I might be mistaken. They also were not afraid mention that they didn't have answers to every question, or ask for time to think about a particular topic.
I've been meeting with those guys for almost 3 years now. Two years of which I have considered myself a Christian.
So what was the question? Oh yeah...Why do I attend church. Sunday services are enjoyable and I really enjoy the sermons (now that I listen and have at least some knowledge of the material the sermons are based on). I could do without the singing most days, but some days it really connects and I enjoy it a lot (but I feel sorry for the people standing in front of me). But that's not what I really like about church. What I enjoy most is the PEOPLE that make up "THE CHURCH". The church I think of is not a place or a building, it's the people. We are part of a community of people with similar values, stuggling through the same issues in life, making the same mistakes over and over again, helping each other, holding each other accountable, encouraging each other, laughing with each other, and even crying with each other. So why do I go to "church"? I go to church so I can be part of "THE CHURCH". It's the people not the place.
One of the Bible verses that hits home with me is Hebrews 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching"
To be honest, some days I still want to sleep in (I like sleep), but I am always glad I didn't, once I get there.
Good topic.
I was raised in a church, but my heart really was not in it for a good share of the time. I went because I had to mostly. As I got older, I was not forced to go, and I didn't. As years went by, I felt drawn towards God more and more.
My wife and I had just started going to a Church together. It was the the perfect fit.
I too had been struggling with some personal stuff. The Minister helped me with some great advice and friendship. I started attending the mens Bible study. After 8 months with those guys and the Bible, things are much easier.
Its easy from a bike racer point of view to think there is not enough time for Church. With training, family and work.
Now I see it in a better light.
I do not know how I did it before Church. I had my first DNF a couple a weeks ago. A year ago that would have hurt me. Now I know there are much more important things to finish.
"Much more important things to finish"... I agree 100%.
I get too serious about racing sometimes. I'm glad I have a lot of friends that remind me what my true priorities are. Doing well in a bike race is nice, but in the end it's not work sacrificing time with my wife, kids, family, etc. I try to keep a balance, so I wont be winning any races any time soon. ;-)
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