Going to Church

I had to ask myself, what do I think of when I think of going to church? Well, I have to admit that going to church hasn't always been at the top of my list of things to do. When I was younger, my Grandma  and Mom forced me...dragging is the word that comes to mind. I wasn't sure what it was about. You Sat on a long bench, listened as one person stood and talked at/to you for an hour in a semi-monotone and it took all your strength not to either fall asleep or sit still, depending on how good the sermon was. This determined how much attention the adults were paying you.
As I've gotten older, my understanding and perception of church changed. I suppose it became a source of frustration as the pastor, or teacher would stand for an hour and monologue. It wasn't a dialog, or discussion, you just had to "take it on faith" that what they were saying was both true and right.  And with my maturity level, having little patience or tolerance for one-sided relationships and some shame over wrong life choices, it led me to walk away from the church.
A lot has happened since then.. I've gotten married, had kids, and after finding room for faith and God in my life, I've started going back to church.
To be openly honest, now church has become more about community than about my relationship with God. Since being raised in a capitalistic, materialistic Western society,  I see and know in part, the church as an institution, and in my vocation as a business manager I recognize when it is being ran like a business.
So I guess I can say I tolerate the churches "business" model. The sad part for me, and what I believe is the reason we read about the growing number of people, especially young ones, leaving the Church, is that the business model hasn't changed and has in some places, come to define what the church is, and the thin veneer of Sunday monologs can't  cover  the hollowness and shallowness of "business" relationships.
In my past experience Sunday has been about relationships- others trying to give you their relationship with God. It has always been about everyone agreeing that one person showing you only one way of looking at all of life is adequate.
I am not doubting the Holy Bible. I am saying that a dialog is closer to what my relationship with God has become. I hope you become fearless in talking to God, and then letting Him talk with you and you learn to listen truly, to what He says. If we see a person who looks like they're in need, do we stand and talk at them for an hour, telling them how to change their appearance to salve our discomfort at our own affluence , or do we show them charity, and kindness, or tough love when needed? More to come.....

Is there a place in the Church for the  voices of the immature in faith, the doubtful, the fearful? The Church is good at talking. Is it as good at listening, or creating an environment for everyone called by God can find their own voice, ask what God and faith mean to themselves, a place where all people can come and share their experiences of wrestling with God, life, joy and pain?