Okay, let’s get this straight. Growing up a Catholic was, well, the opposite of heaven. For years, church felt like a chore that just kept wearing on me. Every Sunday my mother would quickly come into my room and force me to leave the comforts of my bed, get dressed into an uncomfortable outfit and then at 9 o’clock, I would find myself stuck in a room learning how to be a “proper Catholic” in order to receive my communion.

After many Sundays of forcing myself to believe, God was still a thing I couldn’t fathom. That thought alone started to wear and tear at my beliefs of life. I started to question the validity of God. Later on, my family stopped going to church altogether because of many particular reasons, but despite this disconnection my faith grew stronger.

Even though I did join another church, this was not the reason my faith was renewed. Late at night I would sit in my bed and just talk. I would talk about my day, ask random questions and most of all, I would pray. I started to see my world changing and blossoming around me. Most of my questions would be solved and my prayers would be answered.

Despite my absence at church my relationship with God was a brand new side of Christianity I had never seen before. Many Christians are taught from a young age to go to church every Sunday. But by not going to church every Sunday there is ample opportunity to individually interpret the Bible. This has played a major role in renewing my faith; the Bible has confirmed many questions I had regarding the validity Christianity. It has also taught me many life lessons that were never covered in the many years I spent at my church.

Contrary to popular belief, the Bible does not specifically say church is required on Sunday. The Bible says Remember to keep holy on the Sabbath Day. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, your God. No work may be done then… In six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord has blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 20:8-10.

Going to church does strengthen your understanding of the Bible, but it doesn’t necessarily strengthen your love for God. Ample amounts of people attend church only to say they go, not because they have a deep connection with the almighty.

For others, church is the only way they can connect with God throughout the week. But for the few, like myself, it just repeats lessons already known by heart. Church is a wonderful thing, but it also does not make or break my relationship with God. So take it as you may, church is a personal choice that each person individually has to decide between dedicating the time in church, on your own or not at all.