Visiting
This weekend I had the honor of attending my friends’ church for their son’s baptism. It was a wonderful experience. I was reminded of how good it is to be shaken up and get a change of pace every once in a while. I am a member of a medium sized Baptist church and this was a pretty small Episcopal congregation. While we were worshiping the same risen Savior, we were doing it in a very different way than I am used to! The service was a lot more formal and less emotional than in my regular church. But I have to say I really loved it. I felt that there was a real focus on worship and a sense of adoration of the Lord.
More than my specific reaction though, I was struck by how divided we, as Christians, can be by our methods of worship. We are the body of Christ, of course we will each have different styles of services and emphasize different aspects of our relationship to Christ. I think sometimes we equate different with unequal. We all defend our own style and sometimes denigrate the worship style of others.
If you don’t often attend denominations other than your own, I would suggest that you try it every once in a while. By getting out and leaving our comfort zones I think we can grow to appreciate how many ways we can worship meaningfully. We should occasionally get out of the rut of our own Sunday morning routine and experience someting different.
I think you’ve got a great idea there. While it is vital to affirm the importance of truth by regularly attending a church whose doctrine we can most support, this doesn’t mean that we don’t have things to lose from others. Another group of believers is going to inevitably do this or that better than my denomination does.
I have one picky grievance though. As a Presbyterian (and an introvert) and therefore much of the same sort as Episcopalians on this point, it is a pet peeve of mine when it is said we are not emotional in worship. Says who? I’d rather you say that the worship was “less expressive” than “less emotional.” This avoids confusing the presence and expression of emotion. It’s a minor point, but it would help relate to my sort of folks.
How about, “outwardly emotional?” And of course, I say this an an introverted Baptist.
Yeah Tim, you tell him. We Presbyterians we don’t show emotion! Boo Yah ….oh wait no that might not be such a good thing.
I worry that being raised in a don’t clap don’t raise your hands church, I am actually hindered at times when I feel that the spirit is leading me to interact more. Its really hard for me to clap my hands and enjoy worshiping God.
Maybe this is better served as another post considering I am trying to figure out if this comes form a certain image I have of worship or from some deep rooted childhood knowledge of not making any noise in church other then singing the words.
Hope that made sense.
I like the idea though of seeing how others worship. The only thing I don’t like is having to introduce myself and that whole being a “visitor” thing.