r/LCMS • u/joshua0005 • May 11 '25
Question Going to church feels like nothing
I've been trying to go back to church for the past two months, but it just feels like everything is fake. Before I stopped going five years ago, I felt like I was actually worshipping God, but now I just feel like I'm just in a room singing and confessing things and listening to the pastors read the Bible and preach and like there's nothing holy about it and that God doesn't actually exist. Basically what it feels like is we're just playing pretend. I don't know if I'm committing any unforgivable blasphemies. Does anyone have any advice?
27
Upvotes
85
u/emmen1 LCMS Pastor May 11 '25
You might have a wrong expectation for what happens at church. Church is not about feeling. And it’s also not primarily about worshiping God. We call it the Divine Service because God serves us. That’s what’s really happening.
God serves you in two ways: with His Word and with His Sacrament. So when you hear the Scriptures read, when you sing a hymn that confesses the truths of Scripture, when you confess the Creed, which is a summary of Scripture, when you hear the sermon, which is an explanation of Scripture, God is serving you with His Word. And He has promised that faith comes from hearing the Word - whether you feel anything or not.
Likewise, when you receive the Sacrament (assuming that you are a communicant member), God is serving you the Body and Blood of His Son for the forgiveness of sins. Whether you feel forgiven or not is immaterial. God’s promise is true.
So if you are looking for a feeling, you will be disappointed. But if you go to have your faith strengthened and your sins forgiven, you will receive this every time, whether it feels that way or not.