WHAT I DID ON SUMMER VACATION

Early this summer I left the church I had been attending for over a year.  I won't go into details as to why I left.  What this did was give me an opportunity to attend and observe a variety of congregations as they celebrated worship each Sunday.  It was an eye opening experience.

The first congregation I visited is part of a larger group, don't dare call them a denomination, that is known for its ultra conservatism.  These churches have a reputation for believing and openly preaching that they are the only ones who have gotten it right.  My visit to this particular congregation only served to confirm the reputation.  Even though I was trained in a loyal institution of higher education related to this group, I was left with a feeling of distinct inferiority to the true faithfulness of this group.  I did not return for a second visit

The second week I visited another congregation not from the same group as the first, but one related by heritage and history.  They do consider themselves a denomination, and an open minded one at that.  It was interesting to see both the similarities and stark differences between these two related churches.  This congregation is liberal in theological, spiritual, and even political thinking.  The service was fairly typical.  They mixed traditional hymns lead by a song-leader and organist with contemporary choruses lead by a praise team and small group of instruments.  It felt as if the worship portion of the service was obligatory and devoid of emotion.  Here my presence was noted and even announced by the Pastor from the pulpit.  The liberalism was evident in the fact that the lay leaders listed in the bulletin were predominately female.  I have no problem with women taking appropriate leadership roles, but to have them in the majority in the Elders and Deacons is very telling.  The most revealing event came during the Pastors prayer time.  His prayer was to, "God our father, Mother of us all".  I did not return to this church for a second visit either.

A third congregation I visited is a part of what most would call an old mainline denomination.  This church was interesting in that it has four worship services each Sunday morning.  They have a Traditional Service geared for the older generation.  There is the "Blue Jean" service with a generally contemporary design.  The third service is a blending of the first two.  The fourth service is held at the same time as the blended service, and it is designed for those in their late teens and 20's.  Due to transportation restrictions I attended the traditional service, the old folks service.  The worship folder lists the order of worship for the three main services.  The messages are the same, but the order and content is different.  I am unsure if the Pastor does a wardrobe change, but in the traditional service he is in a robe and stole.  Many similar churches may see the Pastor change from a robe, to a blazer with shirt and tie, and finally to a sweater.   What I felt was a division in the body.  I did attend here more than once, but probably will not return.

Next I attended a modern "Cookie Cutter" Charismatic service. This service began with a large rock band performing a set lasting roughly thirty minutes.  I use the term performing a set rather than leading worship because that was the feeling I got during the show.  It was a show, it wasn't worship.  The message left little or no impact.  The thing I came away with was he neat I Pad pouch the church gave out to first time visitors.  I probably will not be a second time visitor.

This past Sunday I returned to the church I had left approximately three months earlier.  It is a small congregation from a Baptist heritage.  I was welcomed back by the members of the church, and by the Pasto who was the only one who knew why I left in the first place.  A church I believe has genuine worship, a loyalty to the Word of God, and a love for sinners and saints alike.  This congregation, in my opinon, cme the closest to fitting what I consider God's model or plan for his church found inActs 2:42, "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."(NKJV).  This little church held to the Word of God, welcomed both old members and strangers into the group, prayed earnestly for God's will to be manifest, and even though communion was not served, Christ was not only an after thought but the main attraction.  To this church I will return.