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I grew up in the Presbyterian church, taught Sunday School there as a teenager, was married in that church and took my kids there. Back in the 80s, some of the high school age SS class material had evolution information. That church isn’t dying, it’s growing. But as I grew older (and up) and really started listening to the sermons, I started to feel totally worthless and that there was really no hope.

Perhaps its just that the minister made me uncomfortable, although I could never put my finger on *why* and the pillars of the church think he is the greatest thing ever sent to them. Maybe I was just not meant to be a Pres., I don’t know. But that’s why I stopped going. It didn’t seem to a very happy or hopeful place that he’s talking about. I’ll never be as perfect as I supposedly should be. So why bother?

I started to feel totally worthless and that there was really no hope.

Perhaps its just that the minister made me uncomfortable, although I could never put my finger on *why* and the pillars of the church think he is the greatest thing ever sent to them. Maybe I was just not meant to be a Pres., I don’t know. But that’s why I stopped going. It didn’t seem to a very happy or hopeful place that he’s talking about. I’ll never be as perfect as I supposedly should be. So why bother?

Sounds like the typical works-oriented church. The sermons will usually describe great works from the Bible, and end with an exhortation for the flock to "go and do likewise".

IMO, we should learn in church that we are indeed "worthless", but we should also learn that you are not capable of being otherwise. They should then stress that belief in Christ provides the righteousness that we all lack. We then will feel compelled to give thanks and worship the God who saved us even though we did not deserve it.

“I’ll never be as perfect as I supposedly should be. So why bother?.

That’s the whole point. You will NEVER be perfect. We are saved by grace, despite how rotten we are. The punishment we deserve for being far less than perfect was taken by Jesus on the cross. It is His gift to you. Take the gift. Embrace it. Tell everyone about it.