River of Life Assembly of God church. Oh the things I can, and have, said about his church and the people whom inhabit it. This particular blog will probably sound like a rant, but since I'm not talking to anyone in particular and this is about me I'm going to rant and rave, and hopefully in the process explain why I still keep mementos of that church with me.
I started going to that church in 2005. At that time I knew three people at the church. Andrew, my best friend at the time, was the one who first got me to show up once in a while, usually during special events. Paul, whom I met in high school, was the one who got me going on a semi-regular basis. And Stephenie, Paul's girlfriend, I had a class with the year I started going to church.
Now this isn't the first church I've been to. It IS the first church I went to voluntarily. There was some coercing involved, but it was still my choice. More on the reasoning in a different blog later.
I went to that church from January '05 - April '06 almost regulary. January was when I went on Wednesdays for the Youth group (Disciples of Christ). October was when I started going on Sundays as well. It was also that time that I started actually truely believing what they taught and said. I prayed, I read my Bible, I did all the good Christian things. And I was that way, on and off, until April. April I went to Navy basic training and Aquire the Fire, more on those another time.
I can back to the church in December '06. I ended my service and officially renounced my faith in February '07. Why? Because of the people. And not just because they were hypocrites. I know that is one of the biggest excuses for not going to church. I stopped going because:
- The church was twenty miles away. I didn't have a car nor did I have directions. I was always driven by one of my friends. The friend who drove me the most was Paul. Paul decided one day that it wasn't his responsibility to drive me to church, it was the church van's job. He lived 2 miles away from me. He had to drive past my street on his was to church. The van, on the other hand, picked up members in another town in the opposite direction, usually leaving over an hour early and barely getting to church in time for the service. His other excuse was he wanted to get to church early. I never had a complaint and have gone with him to church early on multiple occasions. Some days I even gave up a Saturday or Sunday just so he could spend time at church (or with his girlfriend who lived in the same town). He got especially peeved at me when I started using Biblical verses against him. Claimed I was reading them out of context. Most notably Matthew 5:41
- A few days later I get a call from the youth pastor asking me why I never made it to church. Having told him my side of the arguement he said Paul was in the right and I need to apologize. EXCUSE ME? Now, I don't mind apologizing when I'm in the wrong, but I felt I was in the right. And, if anything, he should be apologizing to me. The pastor got angry with me and made Paul out to be a saint. I told me, quite plainly, that if this is what the church teaches and Paul is an example of what the congregation really is then I want no part of it. Now this is the part that really pissed me off:
- Previously in January I had given the church $80.00 so I could attend the next Aquire the Fire concert. When I spoke with the youth pastor he brought up, repeatedly, that he wouldn't be able to refund my money. The thing is, I NEVER ASKED HIM TO. Not once, during our whole hour-long conversation did I tell him to refund the money. I even told him to give the ticket and spot to someone else. All he cared about was the money, not losing a member of his congregation and youth ministry. I donated over $1,000.00 during the time I was with that church, and never once did I ask for it back. It was a tithe, a gift. Why should I? Even when I gave them the money for the concert ticket I didn't think about asking for a refund. So why should I ask for one a month later because of some thickheaded pastor?
See? See why I stopped going? I know there is hypocrisy in church. I've been to enough churches to know that. What I don't like is hypocrite leaders and backstabbing friends. The same guy who got me to got to church regularly is the same guy who got me out of church as well. Its people like that that make me glad I no longer call myself a Christian.
So at this point you may be asking, why do you have this stuff if they were that bad of a church. I keep it as a reminder of what I had when I was there, as well as why I stopped going.
Add to your blog
