Why Growing Up In A Conservative Church Did Me Well | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Why Growing Up In A Conservative Church Did Me Well

I was a church kid and thank goodness I was.

19
Why Growing Up In A Conservative Church Did Me Well

Bethel Baptist Church will always be my home church. The church I come home to, the church I see my old friends at, the church I grew up learning from. I spent 13 years of my life within the walls of Bethel, listening to sermons, singing worships songs, attending AWANA, youth group and volunteering for vacation bible school. I appreciate my church for so many reasons, but above all, I appreciate the lessons it's taught me.

1. It taught me what legalism is and how it can be dangerous.

Bethel wasn't extremely strict compared to some churches or religions. Within faith, there is a freedom to choose. As Christians, the freedom to choose right from wrong helps us learn how to choose wisely. However, I won't lie in saying that many of the things I believed were taught to me without much explanation. Modesty is extremely important. It's most respectable to save your first kiss for your wedding day. Drinking is almost always wrong, unless you're Jesus. Children: obey. Wives: submit. Husbands: lead.

Church sometimes just felt like a bunch or rules. After attending my first year of college, I began to realize that learning why I believe things is sometimes more important than learning what to believe.

2. It gave me good, true friends.


The girls I grew up with at Bethel Baptist Church are my girls. They saw me as a kid. We played dress up, attended each other's birthday parties, talked about our first crushes and the many many crushes after that. We lived through each other's hard years and the middle school years of making bad decisions and finding ourselves. Because we had the common bond of Jesus, our best friendship grew far beyond just surface level. No matter where we are in live today, my girls and I will always care for each other.

3. It put a good head on my shoulders.

Hours and hours in the pews may have been long at time, but God's Word never returns void. Ain't that the truth! I learned the morals I have today because I grew up in a church with solid teaching. The Bible was always used as a primary source of reference. This taught me discernment. It prepared me for the real world, before I even got there. When it came time to make decisions on my own, I somewhat knew how, thanks to my home church Bethel.

4. It shielded me from heartbreak.

Maybe this is another legalistic aspect, but in my case, it did me good. I was taught that it was basically wrong to date a boy unless you were ready to marry him. Well at any age below college level, I wasn't ready to marry someone. This doesn't mean I didn't like boys and didn't secretly want a boyfriend. Who didn't at that age? But in the end, my convictions kept me from ever becoming too boy-crazy. Now I'm at the age where dating is for a purpose. I don't have to live with years of heartbreak. Bethel's teaching pulled me through the years where many face their biggest hardships untouched.

So thank you Bethel. Thank you to my pastors. Thank you to my mentors. Thank you to the Sunday school teachers that dealt with my shenanigans. Thank you to my best friends, you were there when no one else was. Thank you mom and dad for finding a great church. And thank you Lord for leading our family to the church that brought my life to where it is today.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
12 Things To Do On A Snow Day

Everyone loves a snow day! Whether you decide to call out sick from work or your classes get canceled, it is a great way to spend time with family and friends.

1. Build a snowman

People brave enough to face the weather can go outside to build an adorable man made of snow. Relive those childhood glory days, but remember to bundle up!

Keep Reading...Show less
April Ludgate
NBC Universal

Everyone who is in college right now, or has ever been, knows the struggle of pulling in the strings at the last second. It seems impossible, and you have to do a LOT of things in order to assure your future for the next semester.

April Ludgate, historically, is a very annoyed person, and she doesn't hide it. Of all the times that I binged and re-binged "Parks and Rec," her attitude relates more and more to me.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

To The Cheerful Person On Their Rainy Days, You Are Valid

The world is not always sunshine and rainbows, and you do not have to be, either.

839
pug covered with blanket on bedspread
Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

Ask friends of mine to name a quality about me, and one a lot them will point out the fact that I am almost always smiling. I like to laugh and smile -- not to quote Buddy the Elf in April, but smiling is my favorite! It is probably my favorite go-to expression. However, what a lot of people do not see is that I have my down days. I have days when smiling and laughing is a real struggle, or when I have so much on my plate that going out of my way to behappy takes more effort than I have stored in me. Be it a symptom of college and growing up or a facet of life, I cannot always be content.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

11 Struggles of Packing for College

It would be so much easier to just pay someone to do it for you

836
a room with boxes and a window

1. Figuring out when to start

Timing is key, you don’t want to start too early or too late.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

15 Times 'Parks and Recreation' Has Summed Up Your Life

Relatable moments from one of the best shows I have ever watched.

613
parks and rec
Liz Keysmash

Amidst my hectic college career, I always find time for one thing, even on the busiest weeks: Parks and Recreation. This show has made me laugh and has made me cry, but most of all I have related to this show more than I would like to admit.

Here are some "Parks and Rec" moments that relate to life struggles that just about everyone faces.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments