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"You've got to try, it's the inhale that makes the exhale so much better." --Corey Taylor

Why do you go to Church?
03-04-03
by Bryan Mack

I know I've written about this before in a sense, but I just realized how much it bothers me. Church is a place to worship, not a place to show off, screw around, better yourself, or meet people. Sure, you can meet people there - but that's not it's primary purpose. A sanctuary is a place of worship. It has other purposes as well, but worship is key.

The Church I went to until very recently is packed full of people who do not worship. They come there to sing, they come there to dance, they come there to learn. The pastor is an excellent speaker and he helps a lot of people - but these people are convinced they are worshiping while they're there - THEY'RE NOT!!! They're there to help themselves, to make themselves feel better, to put on a show for others, it's pathetic. They show no signs of respect for the Lord or others around them and it almost makes me sick. At first I thought it was just a way of worshiping that I didn't understand, but now I disagree strongly.

The pastor speaks and people in the crowd blurt out "THAT'S RIGHT" or "YES, YES, YOU KNOW IT!". What the hell are you saying that for? Don't you have any manners? SHUT UP! When you were in school and the teacher said "2 + 2 = 4" the whole class didn't blurt out "That's right!" They accepted it and showed respect by shutting up and listening to the superior (teacher). When you have to yell things out in church, you distract others who are there to worship. I went to Church with a friend back in November and had to leave because the people were making me sick to my stomach they were acting so stupidly! "Look at me! I love Jesus! I want attention!! Give me attention!" For weeks I thought there was something wrong with me for not understanding the way these people worshipped - then I realized I was right. I didn't understand how they worshipped because they weren't there to worship! They were there to make themselves feel good. That is wrong.

When I'm in Church, if I'm there to worship, I am in a deep state of mind. Before I receive communion, I want to fully realize what is happening. Now when I'm sitting there meditating and realizing what I'm about to do, and some lady next to me is talking out loud yelling "THAT'S RIGHT!!!!!" - I cannot focus on what is really happening. How can she be focusing on what's happening if she can't shut up for 10 seconds? If for no other reason, please just be quiet in Church so you do not distract others (like me) from really worshipping.

As much as I'm against about 70% of the Catholic church's values and beliefs, I'll give them this any day of the year - they worship properly and respectfully. People speak when spoken to, we kneel before the Lord, and we don't blurt out whatever we feel come to mind to show respect. When you are in the Lord's home, show Him respect - let Him or His pastor do the talking, you are there to be respectful and courteous to Him, not to place attention on yourself. Man this upsets me.

Honestly, if I ever hear another cell phone go off in Church - I'll forgive the person. But please try to prevent this from happening (unless you're a doctor who is on call!)

I still strongly believe that you shouldn't go to Church unless you are going to worship. It's stupid to wake up on a Sunday and say "Damn it, I have to go to Church." If you ever find yourself saying this - don't go. Do you think you're fooling God by showing up when you don't want to be there? NO! You can't fool God. Are you trying to fool yourself, your family, other parishnors? Just who do you need to fool by claiming to go worship God when you're just there as a duty? It's no fashion show and it's not a place to go people-watch. It's a place to worship, and unless you're there to worship and you WANT to worship - I don't want to see you there. I realize it doesn't matter what I want to see, it's not my house, it's God's - but (again - my webpage, my opinion) - God doesn't want you there if you aren't there because you WANT to WORSHIP Him!

If you go to Church to better yourself and get lessons on how you're supposed to live from the preacher, keep doing it. But don't think you're worshiping God by doing so, you're not. Sure, you're doing something he accepts - but don't claim to be worshiping God if you're not there to do so. I'm currently looking for a Church where people do this. I actually withdrew from a project I was working on with my old Church because I don't want to help them anymore, I feel they send the wrong message. If anyone knows a good Denver Christian Church I can attend, please let me know, until then I'll be reading my Bible on my own and showing Jesus the respect He deserves. You won't find me trying to impress anybody just by going to some public place and pretending to be somebody I'm not.