I am in the population of people who does not attend the church that I grew up in. I only go to that church for weddings and funerals. It was a decision that was years in the making. But a decision that I will never regret and helped form my spiritual being.
I grew up in a traditional Southern Missionary Baptist church. Being the daughter of an Assistant Youth Director and the granddaughter of the Chairman on the Deacon Board and the Church Clerk, 1/3 of my week belonged to the church. I was baptized at eight years, got saved at 13 years old, and caught the Holy Spirit for the 1st time at 16 years old. I was a Youth Usher, Youth Announcement Clerk. I was a substitute BTU (Baptist Training Union) & Children's Church activity leader. I participated in Sunday School & Youth Mission activities at my local church, district, citywide & national events I did welcomes, speeches, narrations, and devotions. I was upfront and center all the time.
Somewhere around 14 or 15, I realized I didn't really fit in. My thinking was different from my church peers and church family. I believe in the basics that were taught but the methods & programs, I could not agree with. They weren't wrong, they just were not me. It was hard feeling like that but the older I got the more dissatisfied I was. Soon I realized I could care less about being Baptist. It was more for me to experience in worship. I wasn't ingesting and digesting what was fed to me well. It needed to be something on my level. I also felt like All Christianity denominations were not necessary. When we get to Heaven, we won't be segregated, why the separation on Earth? So, I decided to bide my time and soon as I could I was leaving. I told no one of my feelings and my decision (Many still don't know and really understand, Oh well!!). When I went off to college I went to church with my friends of other denominations and that furthered my thoughts about my "Christian Church Separation" issue. Matter of fact I decided that Christian Denominations and Street Gangs are alike. I graduated college and returned to church home but that lasted a year and a half. It was me not them. That sounds Cliche' but it is Very True. I had to admit it finally: "I just wanted to be a Christian".
I left there and now I attend a Non-denominational Christian church. I love it. The funny thing is I was not looking to ever go to this church. I only went with my male BFF one New Years' Eve because he just had to go when he moved to the Metroplex. No, I don't get to go all the time (Thank God for Web Streaming & Rebroadcasts). One day I'm going to join a ministry. I'm thinking Medical. What I don't want to be is in front all the time. It feels good to sit there and just take it all in. I'm at the point in life that God's people don't need to hear from me right now. Let them hear from someone else. He has something else for me to do and the "church" limelight is not where I need to do it right now.
I know some people will Never understand people like me. To them, it is like I gave up on my foundation church. To them, it is like I threw a wealth of church knowledge & training away. That is not what I did. I used it to boost me in my Christian growth. If one truly wants to know what anyone who has left knew or that they felt they need help or support felt them in any way. I feel one should ask at least first. I know I don't have to be there physically to support anyone. I just don't like when people feel slighted because someone leaves a church for another church. One never knows what God is ordering them to do. Families support their loved ones in pursuits to better themselves. Church families should Not think any different when it pertains to true Christian growth.
I Thank God for my childhood church. I learned so much from it, in words and experiences. As you see I called it "Foundation Church". Because as I add to this building, I have a strong foundation to build upon. It doesn't crack or shift. I know a few people who have cracked and many that don't have a foundation at all. So I'll never forget about my Foundation Church. It's what holds this building up. You never know when you have to rely on a good hymn or action song to get you through. :)
As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms
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