Thursday, March 12, 2015

"Don't go to church" article and thoughts on it

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/church/i-dont-going-church-why-should-i-keep-attending

Above is a link to an article I read this morning. It is a well-written article, it goes into detail about how times are changing and our wants are different than what the church is currently doing. 

I think the article is good, but they missed one key item-the person poising the question is 29 and single. 

I'm 28.5 and single, and since I was 26, heck 25 and single going to church has been hard, because it's the one place where I feel most out-of place. Here I sit in rows of people who have on their cute outfits, their significant other and a pile of kids in Sunday school classes down the hall-- outside the service conversation is centered on those people that you see and how they are farther along in life than you, or a person they want to set-you up with. 

I go to the best church in the world, it's seriously the best. I have a pretty good friend base there (good for living an hour away from them all) And I still have days where I get overwhelmed in my singleness there. 

I struggle so much sitting in church without a person I know next to me- it is where I feel the most insecure. I can't focus on anything but how uncomfortable I am. 

I have it good, I have friends and co-workers who I have been real about this struggle with and they often invite me to ride with them, so that I'm not sitting by myself. 

But not everyone gets to have that in life- not everyone gets to go to the best church in he whole wide world. Not everyone who fights of the months of being uncomfortable will get to a place where they have support of friends there.  

I don't have a grand solution for the church to change it. It can only be done in small ways. 

People who look like me, over 25 and single--- get over your insecurity. Make friends with married people, be okay with sitting by yourself, look for people who are just as uncomfortable and you and befriend them. Put on your big boy pants and push through it. 

Married people- stop with the PDA! Seriously, save it for date night. Think of things to talk about outside your spouse and kids, spend time with people outside your spouse and kids at church. 

Do more than just attend Sunday morning. Volunteer, or join a small group, or do something more than sit in the rows of chairs Sunday morning. 

That's my thoughts, 

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