April 9, 2012

  • Ceyanese

    As most of you know, yesterday was Easter. As others have pointed out, this appears to be a site composed of 60% or more people of faith. So I figure that, like me, a lot of people went to a church yesterday for an Easter service. But the question I have right now is this: How many of you claim to be ‘Christian’ but only go to services, or mass, on Christmas and Easter? C & E. Ceyanese.
    Let me tell you where I’m coming from before I go any further. I’m the son of a pastor. I’m also the grandson of a pastor (Maternal Grandfather). So I was raised in a Christian household and went to church every Sunday. I also attended a private Christian school for all 12 years of my education. I’ve said elsewhere that I wasn’t a Christian during most of this time, but I did go through the motions of just about everything related to the church and a Christian School. I suppose you could say I had perfect attendance for church.
    Then my senior year of high school I began to become very jaded towards the faith and intentionally chose the polar opposite type of school for college. I went from a small Christian school to the largest public university in the United States. There was definitely some culture shock my freshman year, but the main thing I wanted to do was get away from my ‘Christian’ upbringing. I wanted to experience everything.
    I began college in 2001, and moved out on my own March 28th, 2003. I would say that earlier that month would have been my last time going to church on a regular basis. From March 28th through about 2007 I only went to Christmas and Easter services with either my Mother or Father. I was Ceyanese. Church no longer held any meaning for me.
    Then came the trials and tribulations of late 2007 and I sought refuge in the church. I prayed and I prayed hard about where I could find a church to go to and whether or not I should attend on a regular basis. I ended up going to the church my family (sans father) had attended when I still lived with them. And I decided that if I was going to be serious about my faith, that I would go every week and do my best to stay focused during the services. I was never a singer and despised being forced to sing to ‘prove you’re a Christian’ so I didn’t mind too much if I showed up a little late and get there in time for the offering and sermon. But the main point is, after years of being Ceyanese I was a part of a church again and the sermons always held meaning that went beyond mere words. What I never did before I became Ceyanese was let the words of the sermon sink in and have an impact on my daily life. This is the true value of church and going to a church on a regular basis.
    So my message to those of you who went to a service yesterday, but have no intention of going back until Christmas is to think about your decision. Not every church may be a fit for you. That’s fine. It doesn’t have to be a giant stadium full of people, but if that’s your cup of tea, and you want to blend in so as not to be noticed by the pastor or other members of the congregation then, by all means, go to large church. Maybe you went to a smaller, more intimate church yesterday and it struck a chord with you. I would suggest that you keep going there and see if the sermons of the next few weeks resonate within your heart. Listen to the good news. And who knows, maybe the church you attended yesterday was like mine; the very same church you attended when you were little and you went with your folks or other family members. Go back next week.
    Don’t settle for a Ceyanese relationship with your church. Let them get to know you. Let yourself get to know them. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find a few friends there and, gasp, maybe even your next significant other! Not that those should be the only reasons to go to church, but if your reason for going is genuine, and so is theirs, their companionship may resonate with you just as much as the pastor’s sermon. In my experience with other Christians, it is what they do or say that has an impact on me far more than what the pastor says and does. The pastor, man or woman, is already an elected leader of the church. The man or woman sitting in the pew next to you who is putting in a few dollars of his earnings to the offering is not. Get to know them. Get to know the church again. Leave the Ceyanese faith.

    Good luck to you.

    Dan

Comments (11)

  • I think people who just go to church on the big holidays go out of obligation. That’s not for me and neither is organized religion, but for the sake of our family, i’m going to start attending when we move. I will take from it what i can, minus all the Jesus mumbo jumbo

  • Yeah, I used to do that, too… We finally started going back to church, more regularly, in April of last year. So, last year. But we stopped going as of October and haven’t been back. Like the way you explained it, I think it would be nice to go to a church and really let the message sink in and have impact on my day to day life, not just “going through the motions”, which is often how I feel. I hope to find that again. I still hope for that. :)

    This was a good post, Dan! Well said!

  • I agree that the church has very valuable messages. I don’t like the singing part either – ha ha. Great post!

  • good post, Dan, or as I like to say “fliptastic” post Dan :) . I was raised in the catholic church and didnt like it. too mundane. i like the non denominational church. theres more fellowship and energy in that church :)

  • @ShamrockLover - You have me curious. What happened at church or whenever that causes you to call it ‘Jesus Mumbo Jumbo’?

  • @Megabyyte - Yeah not every service has an impact, but more often than not I feel at least somewhat refreshed nad….hmmm…able. Yeah able is the word for it I guess.

  • @weirdgirl017 - Thanks…I’m one post closer to matching you in becoming TRUE. haha

  • @Cute_CMG_25 - Where does the word ‘fliptastic’ come from? In any case, I’m glad you liked the post. Not every church has ‘energy’, but if you’ve found one that does, I’m happy for you!

  • @Shadowrunner81 - lol idk i started saying it like on facebook i was like ohh flip or flipsticks lOl and thats just how fliptastic came to be :) and thanks yeah i do like it alot :)

  • @Shadowrunner81 - 
    Sorry, i know that was pretty harsh and probably offensive. It’s a long story, but the short of it is that i went to Catholic school for 13 years and had it shoved down my throat. Then when i was 19, i dated a fundamentalist Pastor. I’ve tried so hard to be Christian, but i just can’t wrap my mind around it. I used to read my Bible daily, attend church twice a week….it’s just not for me. I know people are not perfect, but the hypocrites i saw was astounding…oh and the judgment! People assume that because i am not Christian that makes me an Atheist. I am far from it. i believe in God and i pray a lot. It’s just the Jesus part i can’t understand. I just think he was a great man….the male version of Mother Theresa and people started telling stories and it morphed into him being God’s son. I’ve wondered if someday people start talking and say that Mother Theresa was God’s daughter. Anyway…..my beliefs actually are closer to Judaism more than anything. I just don’t center my life around it. My hubby grew up Catholic and wants to start going again. I will not convert, but i will attend church to support our family.

  • @ShamrockLover -  I really hope you find a place with the right kind of pastor/priest! That can make all the difference. Thank you for sharing.

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