I listened to some past sermons from a church I used to attend. I like the people there but it is close knit so and got the feeling that they are chastising those who stopped going to church there, as I listened. And that makes me feel more awkward to go back. They did welcome me in but I have always felt in my heart it’s more important as a Christian to just try to be your best self and connect with others who want to see the world be a better place - it’s not about going to church or being in a clique. We don’t worship the building or the institutional protocols. I wasn’t raised in church. I was baptized as an adult because my parents left that up to me. But my grandma reassured me that “you don’t have to be baptized or go to Sunday school/ church. Just be a good person, be good to people.” And she was raised in church. So that’s what I got out of the bible message, too. It made sense. It still makes sense. But I guess there’s a safety in going to church. It’s a bit riskier out in the big bad world, to meet and make friends.
I did learn more of the bible at church but I still think that going to church is less important than just generally connecting with people and trying to do our best where we’re at. I remember a minister saying “Go to where God is already working.” And that could be anywhere and everywhere.