What made you decide to leave?
Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 2:34 pm
This question is for those of you who have left church. What made you decide to leave in the end? Was it one big thing or many little things?
I am thinking of leaving my church of six months. If I'm completely honest, it's because some of the congregation has let me down. No one has been openly rude, but it's more little snubs--people being friendly in private, but at church on a Sunday, they walk right past without a word. At my Baptism, I shared with the church that I have anxiety and depression and one man who had never spoken to me before came over to tell me that he suffers with this as well. He told me that his wife is suffering also and that we should all get together sometime and meet up. I requested this man's friendship on facebook and he has ignored my request (I know this must be the case, because I can see him active on other friends' pages) and that has hurt me. I also have issues with another member who is very nosy and judgemental. I recently read somewhere that other church members shouldn't matter---you're there to praise God, but it's not that easy. Gearing myself up to talk to these people (there is no easy "escape" afterwards because they all congregate in the hall for tea and coffee afterwards) and put on a smiling face and act like nothing is wrong is really getting to me now. It's getting harder and harder for me to put on the fake cheery act. I want to tell these people what I really think of them, but I'm not able to do that. I feel like if I have to go through all this every Sunday, I shouldn't even be going. I should stay home or try to find a new church. On the other hand, I wonder if this is "The Enemy" trying to get to me. It's all upsetting no matter which way I look at it.
I am thinking of leaving my church of six months. If I'm completely honest, it's because some of the congregation has let me down. No one has been openly rude, but it's more little snubs--people being friendly in private, but at church on a Sunday, they walk right past without a word. At my Baptism, I shared with the church that I have anxiety and depression and one man who had never spoken to me before came over to tell me that he suffers with this as well. He told me that his wife is suffering also and that we should all get together sometime and meet up. I requested this man's friendship on facebook and he has ignored my request (I know this must be the case, because I can see him active on other friends' pages) and that has hurt me. I also have issues with another member who is very nosy and judgemental. I recently read somewhere that other church members shouldn't matter---you're there to praise God, but it's not that easy. Gearing myself up to talk to these people (there is no easy "escape" afterwards because they all congregate in the hall for tea and coffee afterwards) and put on a smiling face and act like nothing is wrong is really getting to me now. It's getting harder and harder for me to put on the fake cheery act. I want to tell these people what I really think of them, but I'm not able to do that. I feel like if I have to go through all this every Sunday, I shouldn't even be going. I should stay home or try to find a new church. On the other hand, I wonder if this is "The Enemy" trying to get to me. It's all upsetting no matter which way I look at it.