Leaving church, what do you think?

Question

I am very seriously thinking of leaving the church altogether,I feel that I dont fit in, The music has never interested me and I feel it is a worn out ritual. I have never found God there, But only in real everyday life he seems to be real.The sad truth is sunday for me is the lonliest day of the week! I feel as an individual and unique person I am just not growing while at church, not to mention I am sick of the politics and rubbish that goes on there. If this is what a foretaste of heaven is then leave me on the new earth please!
What do you think? And please, I do not deal in stupid christian fairytales! Just simple everyday reality!!

Answer 1

I agree with you totally, I also left the church and am so much happier. I felt that Sunday was very lonely as well, and i was so sick of preachers making it sound like this was all my fault for not being "more involved" when I work a 40 hour week to support myself. Also i was very sick of them asking me for money. No one can tell me that they aren't a lot more concerned about what you're putting in the offering basket than they are about you personally. It isn't right for a pastor to live in luxury or close to it, while the people are struggling to get by and then are supposed to give their money to him. I think the church isn't what it's supposed to be.

Answer 2

I think you have a real good reason to explore other churches, perhaps even take a break from organized religion, but not to leave the "Church" if you mean by that, Christianity. You can never judge Christianity by one church, or even one denomination.

I was getting ready to sign off, and thought, "answer ONE question" so I went to Q&A and there you were. OK, I say do some church hopping. Sunday shouldn't be the loneliest day of the week for you. You need to find a church that offers the fellowship, music and volunteer work that would appeal to you.

When you say you are tired of the ritual, I think you are in a high church, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal; but all of these groups have more liberal and more conservative churches as well. If you are Mo-synod, try ELCA, or try different Episcopal Churches, they are all different and welcome different ideas.
If you are RCC, then take a break from them. They are the least bendable, and it seems most difficult to get into a "group" with them. No offense to the religion, but it is more of an individual worship program than some of the other, for lack of better terminology.
If I can be of any help, or support, email me.

Answer 3

You have been attending church for the wrong reasons -

Music, ritual, church politics, social aspects, are not what makes a church nor should they be considerations as to why you attend. All of those things are really just distractions.

You don't go to church to find God either. Church is a place where you first and formost, worship God. God has to be in your own individual heart and mind to begin with. You aren't going to find Him just by going to a particular building on a certain day of the week.

By saying this, does that mean that I'm trying to discourage you from going to church, or that attending church doesn't matter? No, it does matter, and you should be a member of the Christian community, but do it for the right reasons.

A wise pastor once commented that "A church is a hospital for sinners, not a social club for saints." If you reject being a member of a church for reasons that relate to earthly and social things, or because some of it's members are sinners, you will never find a church that you can belong to. You have to approach it from the angle that you are there to worship God with your fellow Christians in your local community, and actively pray for their repentance and redemption, as well as your own.

From it's earliest days, the Church has always stressed worshipping and praying not only as an individual, but as a community of believers. This is an important part of being a Christian. God wants us to interact with our fellow man, and actively support one another in our walk with the Lord.

Before you leave, consider what I've written here..... You will never find a "perfect church" because people themselves are imperfect - only God is. The trials and tribulations of dealing with certain people and practices within a church is a perfect opportunity to try and practice what Jesus preached about - love, forgiveness, patience, picking up our cross and carrying it sometimes...... all part of the true Christian experience. Don't ever let anything that happens in Church ever shake your faiith - that should always be between you and your God, in a place that no one can touch......

Take care and God Bless

Answer 4

i ended attending the church I grew up in, in my mid-20's. I nonetheless believed each little thing I found accessible, yet mandatory greater particular wisdom approximately my faith than become provided there with a view to handle the present circumstances i become confronted with in life. I even have been attending a small team fellowship or worshiping at homestead ever because of the fact that, yet have not stopped formally assembling for weekly worship centers, even if if only with my family contributors at homestead. So I probable would count quantity as part of those archives. i'd say my reaction to all of it is that all of it is actual unsettling and kinda frightening in approaches, and that i've got super venture for no count if my very very own teenage little ones will make the determination for faith and an actively non secular, Scriptural life style. I additionally each so often omit lots of the greater reassuring aspects of belonging to a brilliant, sturdy team of brothers and sisters who many times meet (yet nonetheless do no longer omit the way it may generally nonetheless no longer probable sense like brothers and sisters). yet on the different hand, i understand Who has guided me plenty on the path I even have taken, and understand he's on top of issues right here and in the wider scene too, and that generally it rather is those unsettling cases that convey out the main extraordinary breakthroughs of the Spirit, and actual pray that this would be the case.

Answer 5

If you leave the church, do not leave God. His love, strength, and guidance will be inside you as long as you stay in touch with Him through prayer and meditation. Continue to read the scriptures at home. Be at peace with whatever you do.

I had a falling out with Christianity about ten years ago (the whole religion, not just a single church congregation). During this time, I never strayed far from the rules of right and wrong. I referred to myself as a "spiritual, but not religious" person. I turned inward and found the answers I was needing. God was still there, whispering what I needed to hear. You just have to keep your spirit tuned in order to hear it.

I know He was and still is with me. During those ten years, I went through enough crap to make anyone hate the world and everything in it, but I have not turned bitter, and I've faced and overcame every challenge. I've recently been "reintroduced" (although He never truly left) to God through an unexpected knock on my door. God's timing, of course, is perfect. Just as I've gotten settled into this new church (and new denomination as well) challenges are starting to happen where I need support and assistance that I can get in no other place. Ask for His help and He will guide you as needed. You are His child and He will keep an eye on you.

Blessings

Answer 6

Sounds like the problem isn't church, but finding the right church. If the one you currently attend is not meeting your needs, try another before you give it up altogether.

There are many different types and styles of churches out there. If you do not like the music or the service at that one, try another. It took me a few tries to find you that 'fit" for me and my family.

One of the things that we like the most about our church is that it deals with everyday realities. Its main purpose is to help people to walk out the Christian message in their finances, marriage, family relationships, jobs, health, etc. Your pastor always keeps it very practical and mixed with humor.

There is the right church out there for you. You just may need to do a little looking.

Answer 7

I got tired of it too. I went with my wife for a few years, but could never keep my brain off long enough to wholeheartedly accept all the bulls**t that was coming from the pastors mouth. Don't think that that's what made me atheist, it was a History of Religion course that I took in 1995 that completed that process. But going to church only verifies what you may already know to be true, it's a business just like every other business that hires motivational speakers. Only the church does it with a FrankenBook of contradictions and unnecessary evil that they call "Inspired by an All Loving All Knowing All Powerful God." Did god know I was going to write this? If he did, why didn't he censure me? Matter of fact, why didn't he censure himself when his cronies were telling people that if they rape a woman they have to pay the father a bride price, marry the victim, and may never divorce her (Deuteronomy 22:28-29)? Sounds like a pretty "F'd Up" god to me. But I'm sure that was all a part of gods plan, right.

Leave the church man, save yourself from the lunacy.

Answer 8

I don't think you are dealing with stupid Christian fairytales. I believe that you have outgrown that place.
Has it come to your mind that the Father is calling you out of there? Should I remind you the word? "Come out of there, My Son. Don't share in their iniquities, so as not to share in their punishment...?
Church is a word used in place of the Greek EKKLESIA.
EK = out of
KLESIA = called
The church is not a place you attend, it is not an institution.
Church is rather something that YOU ARE. Or don't you know that your body is the Temple of God?
So how can you leave the church when you are a Church?
You are His.

Peace

Answer 9

I have done exactly the same thing, it does not mean that you are less than a Christian if you don't go to church.

But as a Christian I would advise you to still have fellowship with people that you trust and have a bible study once a week at your home or at some body Else's home perhaps.

I find by having small bible study groups I feel more in doing that than I ever felt at church.

And if you don't have any one to study with you can always email me and we can share each others views.

Jade

Answer 10

One of the biggest misconceptions that we as a Christian community has is that worship is about us. IT"S NOT! We do not go to church to to fulfill some kind of need in ourselves. We go to worship God. It's not about us,it's about God. If the church you are attending is not worshipping in a way that you feel comfortable than by all means seek out a new way and or place to worship. You can worship by becoming involved in a ministry that helps others like a homeless shelter,prison ministry,ect... In doing so you will find others that are like minded and most likely be lead to another church where you will fit in better. That is reality in ALL aspects of life not just religion. I wouldn't go to a nursing home if I wanted to find freinds to rock with and in the same aspect I wouldn't go to rock concert if I preferred quiet friends. You have to find your fit.