Groups, including whole churches & smaller church groups, often suffer from 'group think.'

Group think happens when a group is so focused on one idea that they cant see any other alternatives or even how the direction they are going can be way off base from the original goal &/or become harmful to others.

Sadly, there are some churches that are so intent on serving others that they don't understand that in order to help others, they must first take good care of themselves.

You say you don't want to leave the church. Do you mean that particular church or church in general?

Have you spoken one on one w/the pastor/minister/preacher? If not, it might be worth a try if the group think involves only one group & not the whole church.

Otherwise, have you considered doing a little church shopping? Why not attend several churches, at least 3 times each, w/your eyes & ears wide open, looking & listening (& asking questions) for what it is you are looking for in a church group. Each church group (even w/in the same denomination) will have a different personality & a different mission. (all groups develop unique personalities) That would enable you to stay in a church that more closely fits your needs.

MTC's advise was totally on point. Sending you peace and clarity!

{{{{belovedfaith}}}}

{{{{hugs}}} I can SO relate. These very same dynamics have almost made me leave church completely so many times. But I don't want to leave. So now, I am just having to learn to set boundaries with people at church just like everywhere else in my life. Most people don't like it - I am sure I am know as the "undependable" one - but I have to stop caring what other people think. If they can't take me and love me like I am, then they are not people who I want to share my life with anyway.

I think I would distance myself from this group right now. You need to take care of you. ''Serving others'' is fine, but, when you do not care about yourself, that's when you can get into trouble. I agree with everyone's opinoin given here. You need to have boundries with people. I do not care what life situation you are in. I know from personal experience that when I was around proclaimed ''Christians", they were anything but what they protrayed themselves to be. I am not saying don't go to church. I am just saying focus on taking care of you. Work on your self esteem. Stay on this site. We are your sisters!

~therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing~
~not forsaking our own assembling together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.~
those are a couple of verses I found :)
But as for your illness, it seems as though they would come together with you and pray with you.
I used to go to church but haven't in a long while, but there is times I need to get together with people so I talk to some sisters.
And maybe if you talk to your pastor, you could start a ministry to the people who need prayer in the church. To be healthy, you have to start inside, and work out right?
I am just making suggestions. I hope everything works out for you.
Refreshing is what I call it I go to get prayer for me, and have sisters and brothers pray with me, and uplift me. Sometimes I go with a friend to her church and they pray for me.
I hope i helped a little bit with these suggestions.

Actually you do have freedom, the freedom to join a different church or a different religion. I think here the saying applies that charity begins at home. From what you have described about your church group, they sound more self involved than charitable. If they are incapable or unwilling to act loving and kind to fellow members of their group, I don't think I would want to reamin a member there. There are churches and groups out there that do more than talk the talk. They actually walk the walk and extend kindness to all and aren't interested in how many brownie points they can accumulate through their seeming charitable acts. In fact those that are the most sincere imo are those that remain anonymous, expecting no recognition and no praise.