Church Alive February 25, 2013 ISSUE

Your questions about church

Answer offered by Dawn-Marie Cornett

Q: Sometimes I just don’t feel like going to church. I don’t like to force myself to go. It’s like a chore I have to do each week. Is it bad that sometimes I just don’t go?

A: I’m not sure there is anyone who hasn’t felt the desire to sleep in on a Sunday or curl up at home on a Wednesday evening. The temptation to stay home can be a strong one. But I’ve found that if I approach those feelings with a question of “Is it good for me to stay home?” instead of “Is it bad?” I get much clearer answers from God.

God is good, and God is All. So all is good. We get confused when we think we can make bad decisions. We try to see the bad and avoid it. But if there is only good, what are we trying to avoid? There’s just good, better, and best. We only get messed up when we ignore the good God has for us.

Basically any choice we are going to make in life, if started with a question of “Is it bad?” will generally only make us feel guilty and confused. Understanding if something is bad or not is really not going to help us want to do, or not do, that thing we are questioning. It gets us started on the wrong foot. However, if we start with asking God, “Is it good?” we’ll have a way to honestly, and without guilt, see the benefits of our possible choices.

When it comes to going to church or staying home, list the good of both. For example, staying home may feel safe, comforting, and even productive if you have a lot to do. Going to church will provide inspiration, fellowship, comfort, a feeling of safety, love, and an opportunity for you to be there for others that may need your smile, your presence, and maybe even a hug.

To read the rest of Dawn-Marie’s answer, and to read an answer offered by Christian Science practitioner John Biggs, visit
christianscience.com/week-75.

Now that you’ve listed the good you can get and give in both choices, pick the one that appeals to you most, that best represents who you are and what you hope to accomplish in that moment and in the future. Turning to God, who knows you best, will help you be very clear about your motives.

Mary Baker Eddy says this really cool thing that may help when making choices. In Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, she wrote, “Success in life depends upon persistent effort, upon the improvement of moments more than upon any other one thing. A great amount of time is consumed in talking nothing, doing nothing, and indecision as to what one should do. If one would be successful in the future, let him make the most of the present” (p. 230 ). So, again, go back to your list of good, keeping in thought that you wish to “make the most of the present,” and you’ll do well.

About the author

Dawn-Marie Cornett is a Christian Science practitioner from Framingham, Massachusetts.

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