We didn’t go to church a ton when I was a kid.
We would rotate between a few baptist churches.
They were boring. We’d just sit there, bored in the uncomfortable pews.
The music sucked.
The sermons put us to sleep.
That was my childhood/church relationship.
We’d skip Sundays here and there and go fishing instead.
When I was about 15 or 16, my brother started dating a woman he worked with, and she attended a local Church of God. She invited us to come, so we all went on a Sunday morning.
It was like nothing I had ever experienced.
Walking in those doors was like attending a concert.
The music was loud.
People were singing and dancing.
Flags were being waved.
We finally made it to our seats, but there was no sitting down. We stood (like everyone else) and listened to the upbeat, loud music. They had monitors throughout the church with lyrics on the screen.
And then… something happened that blew my mind.
The keyboardist stopped playing… and started RUNNING LAPS AROUND THE CHURCH. What????
There were people speaking words I didn’t understand.
One lady was making noises like the flying cars in The Jetsons.
My mind was blown. What the hell is this?
Sadly, we kept attending that church week after week until all of that stuff became normal to me.
Every week, the pastor would talk about how we’re unworthy sinners, deserving of hell.
He would call us to the altar for repentance. People were slain in the Holy Ghost.
I ended up giving my life to Christ and spending the next 9 or so years living my life for God, reading my Bible, and believing that I had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
I did a video about that very thing:
Also, I spent a lot of goddamn time on a video review of the terrible Christian movie The Lock In, so if you would give that a view, I’d appreciate it!
Lots of things in that movie reminded me of my old Pentecostal church.
I’m so glad that I made it out. I know that not everyone is so lucky.
I think one big reason I was able to think my way out is that my childhood wasn’t so deeply entrenched in it; I didn’t get heavy into Christianity until my late teens.
What’s your story? I’d like to know.
Until next week!
Kevin
P.S. I’d love if you check out the new podcast!