Do You Go to Church to Make Family Happy?

Do You Go to Church to Make Family Happy? Cartoon by nakedpastor David Hayward

Do You Go to Church to Make Family Happy?

I drew this cartoon because I know a lot of people who are in this situation.

Easter’s coming and many people who are deconstructing return home to their parents who still go to church.

Parents who still go to church love it when their kids go to church with them.

If you do go to church, it would mean

you’ll rededicate your life and get right with God again
you’re keeping your family together rather than tear it apart
you’ll make your parents the happiest people in the world
you’ll avert painful discussions all weekend about why you don’t go
you’ll prove to your parents’ church that you’re not a humiliation
you’re not the sinner everyone concluded you were
you’ll be taking steps to prevent yourself from going to Hell.

So, what do you do?
Stay home while your parents and family go to church?
Or go?

Here’s what I suggest to those who ask:

If going is not too triggering,
and if the church or a person there has not already harmed you,
and if you can sacrifice a couple of hours,
and if the cost is worth the gain,
and if it is by far the easiest way out,
you can go.

But it’s up to you. I’ve always said, Choose your battles!‚If this one’s worth fighting for you, then fight it.
But if it’s not, then don’t.

Some people find that stopping going to church is the first and easiest way of coming out spiritually to their family.

You’re free!
You’re free to fight this fight or to postpone it for a better day.
This is your life.
You get to decide how to live it.
You get to choose when to engage and when to not.