I wholeheartedly concur with that final remark. However, I firmly believe that we should not shy away from engaging with the Bible, participating in church activities, or partaking in the sacraments. I can understand how one might find themselves in a prolonged situation where attending church feels unappealing due to negative examples set by others. Throughout history, we can observe that God allowed Israel to be sent into exile, likely for longer periods than when they were permitted to worship at the temple. During those times, God still made His special presence known, providing protection and guidance. I truly believe that God is often closest to us when systems and structures seem to be in disarray. I’ve personally experienced some of my most profound moments of worship during times when I was not actively attending a church. Currently, I am attending one, and I’ve come to realize that our culture has shifted away from a patriarchal structure; however, this shift feels more like a disease that hinders our ability to unify as a community. People are often so entrenched in their beliefs that they will argue their points to the very end, leading to a seemingly hopeless situation as these divisive practices become ingrained across multiple generations.