Myths of Christianity – Part 2

Friends, as I shared earlier this week, so much of what I believed about faith has been wrong. I was raised Catholic and we went to church every Sunday. My experience taught me that church was boring and my faith was a one day a week, check the box, activity. We would actually ask if we could go to the 7:45am service because they didn’t sing, and it meant we would get out of there faster. I felt close to God because I prayed nightly, giving him my wish list, and trusting he was going to make it happen for me. The only thing I got right about faith was that God loved me. Thank goodness His love for me, for all of us, is not dependent on us getting it right. Because based on how I lived 89% of my life (I actually ran the numbers), I would be in serious trouble. The myth I believed?

Myth: Faith = Church = Boring

Now, I will say, anything we go through the motions of is going to get boring. It may be a comfort because it’s predictable, but it’s not going to be exciting. My faith was a go through the motions, kind of faith. And friends, I wasn’t even doing anything worthwhile. By the time I got to college I stopped going to church. I tried going back to Catholic church as an adult, and I remember sitting through the service and thinking to myself, no, this is not where I belong. I didn’t feel great about not going to church because I was no longer checking that box. But it didn’t bother me enough to do anything about it. It was something very easy to figure out another day. And again, God loved me. I believed in him and occasionally prayed, so in my mind I was good. 

It’s funny. When things are going well, we tend to keep things as they are. The first time I went back to church, to a Christian service, was when I was so hurt and broken I was willing to do things differently. I realized my status quo simply wasn’t working anymore. I had my dad go with me and we sat in the back. I was skeptical and wanted to check things out from a distance where I felt safe, hidden, and close to an exit. I remember when the music began, I heard drums and the beginning of a song that while I didn’t know, sounded like something I would want to know. I remember looking at my dad and exclaimed “This is what the music is like??!”. After the music/worship part of the service, the Pastor came out, began teaching, and again, I couldn’t believe it. He was using words I understood! He was speaking, with everyday words, and about things I could relate to. I honestly don’t remember what the specific teaching was about. What I do remember was the feeling I had – that I was home. 

The feeling of home was not because of the building, the music, or even that particular Pastor or teaching that day. The home was God. Have you ever been lost? Whether you’re driving, or walking around an area you haven’t been in, and you lose your way? It’s a horrible feeling. It’s uncomfortable and stressful. Then comes that moment when you find your way. There is a peace that settles over you. That is the peace I felt. It was feeling God call me home to Him and realizing I was finally there. He was calling me through the songs I was hearing. He was calling me through the teaching from the Pastor. He was calling me through His words in the Bible. He was calling me home to Him. 

Now for those who go to church and quite honestly, feel a bit bored in their faith, I understand. It goes back to the myth I too believed, that faith = church = boring. Church alone, faith alone, does not equal excitement. It can certainly bring peace. But excitement? Now that’s something very different and we’ll get to that next week. In the meantime, I encourage you to try something different today, change up that status quo. For a playlist to hear a few songs, click here. If you’re open to some bite-sized content, visit here. You can hear stories from others that offer encouragement, message moments from our Pastors, or watch and listen to worship songs. 

I am praying for you. I mean that. I believe if you’ve found this blog, if you’re reading it, God has something for you. He is drawing you to Him and a relationship with Him unlike what you’ve experienced before. Not because of the writing, but because the stories he has me share, are about relationship with Him. Life changing, peace dwelling, awesome relationship with Him.

Blessing you with peace, joy, happiness, and a very not-boring relationship with Him.