On how I used to think that the church was meant for only two types of people

This text is supposed to feel more like a personal reflection on something I discovered during my journey of trying to suffer less in life.

I discovered that having a religion and following what is written in the Bible has reduced my suffering like nothing else ever had.

But before believing in God, I believed that people who went to church were either lying to themselves and refusing to acknowledge their own flaws, or they were simply too pure and superior compared to me (more disciplined and more in control of their thoughts, feelings, and impulses than I could ever be).

I was wrong.

Sure, there are people who struggle to acknowledge their own shortcomings and care more about appearances. But I learned that there is no such thing as a person who is perfectly pure, perfectly disciplined, or fully in control of their thoughts, feelings, and impulses all the time. The church isn't a place meant for special "saint" people. It's a place for everyone.

Realizing this was very illuminating. Before, I was afraid to even walk into a church. I thought I would be judged for not knowing what I was supposed to do, for not understanding the traditions, or for not being able to recite prayers from memory.

But the truth is that we are all made of flesh, and we all struggle. And the best churches understand this. They do their best to make people feel welcome, accepted, and like they belong, even those who know nothing about religion and are simply curious.

I'm so grateful to have met people in church who shared their stories with me. They are not better than me. They are trying to understand the truth, just like I am.

<3