Anyone else get completely depressed at church (get teary and the stupidest of small things that one normally simply shrugs off) but seem fine most of the rest of the time? Or better question, has anyone experienced this and found the way to the other side? What did you do about it?
Discussion
Yes- the other side is quite literally on the other side of this life.
Have you considered that it might not be you?
I think God lets us get disillusioned with the institutional church so we can shed our attachments to the human structure and cling to Him.
I think I'm probably comparing my current church to one I attended in South Korea when I was there earlier in the year. I was always excited on Sunday to worship in community. I don't think I've felt that was about my current place in years... The institution is fine enough. I like the people enough... But I've been ignoring the fact that I get so down on Sunday.
What is the core reason you got to church every Sunday?
As I view it, what you get out of church is important, but what you put in is essential. We go to church to worship God, and all else is secondary.
Personally, I feel it's much easier to worship God in solitude. Prayer, Bible reading and the occasional worship song done on my own seem much more fruitful... Although, I prefer the Korean church way of prayer and how much time in the service is devoted to it.
In the morning before I go I always pray to worship God well because I know there should be a communal aspect to it. But in reality every second week I've run the live stream ever since spicy coof days. With our set up that's a big job that doesn't really allow for the joining in of worship and is sometimes even distracting from the sermon.
However, I had less jobs to do at church and even less attachment to the place and people prior to covid lock downs.
The actions of helping make the worship possible can be an act of prayer in themselves. Choir would be the obvious example. Choir members have to focus on the music and might not be able to be as attentive to the rest of the service, but that's okay, because the church needs a choir. I'd figure the same goes for livestream technicians, ushers, and others, I'm sure we can offer those acts of service as a prayer.
ask now what church can do for you.... but what you can do for the church. The church we attend in - is very poor. It has like less than 30 attendees and seems to be not progressing well. But it's there, for some reason. I suppose it could get depressing, but then again, I guess I just think differently. I come to church to fellowship with other believers, to contribute what I earn, to learn, hopefully to make a difference.