Get your enthusiasm away from me...

[deird_lj]

I am really sick of sitting in church services and feeling a huge amount of pressure to look enthusiastic! Christians seem to have this perception that, unless I'm extremely happy, I'm somehow letting God down. I hate that! The fact is, most of the time I DON'T feel very excited at the idea of being in church, and I shouldn't have to pretend that I do.
I want to be a Christian, but I want to be an honest one - not part of a mass-self-deception philosophy.

Comments

[kerithave.livejournal.com]

But...if we tell people the whole truth about God and being a Christian they will never go for it!! Seriously honey lots of love and hugs and sympathy in your general direction.

[taiba.livejournal.com]

LOL I've got this image of you sitting in the front pew, freaking the minister out because of the manic grin on your face :-p that'd be fun just to watch him stumble in his sermon ;-)

No, I would not make a good Christian :-p

[deird1]

Much better way to freak the minister out:
score his sermon, using those big number cards. Imagine it - looking up in the middle of your main point to find that people in the congregation reckon you're worth 5.6, 7.2, and 4.9...

[http://users.livejournal.com/_sabik_/]

Well, if you aren't happy in church, why go? Not in the sense that you shouldn't, but in the sense that you should know why you do...

Just going for the sake of going seems rather pointless, unless you're waiting for something.


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[kirby1024.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's that she's unhappy about going to church, simply that she isn't enthused about it (much like we're often unenthused about going to our jobs, yet we still do).

[http://users.livejournal.com/_sabik_/]

Yeah, but with work it's usually because you need the money, or somebody's watching, or there's some goal at the end, or something. What's the point just going through the motions at church?

Yes, there are possibilities, but I wouldn't imagine they'd be particularly common...


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[taiba.livejournal.com]

This thought occurred to me too. If you're feeling under pressure and so even less enthused about it than normal, why not at least take a break for a few weeks? Recharge your batteries, or whatever metaphor you wish to use ;-)

[deird1]

I never said I didn't get anything out of it...
I like church - it's fun, and I need the stuff I get from it. I just don't see why some people think I have to be ecstatically happy and enthused and isn't-God-always-so-great-every-second-of-the-day smiley if that's not how I'm feeling...

[http://users.livejournal.com/_sabik_/]

Like this?



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proper reply sometime when I've had more sleep, I think...

[fireflyfaery.livejournal.com]

Amen! Good on you. :)