Why Are There Or What Is The Need For So Many Flavors Of Christianity?

Discussion in 'Faith & Religion' started by Jack Roberts, Aug 3, 2021.

  1. Janice Lynne

    Janice Lynne Well-Known Member
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    As I recall it from childhood, the Lutherans are quite reserved, and don't ever raise their voices, even during the recitations and hymns. But you still have to at least keep your eyes open and not snore!
     
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  2. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    To me, it isn’t just a personality thing but a total belief thing.
    If one leans more toward the supernatural workings and gifts of the Holy Spirit, e.g. laying on of hands, speaking in tongues (and translations) and especially the potential loss of salvation, then the Pentecostal church is where one needs to spend some time.

    I graduated from a Baptist Seminary but have since changed my denomination to non-denominationalism in light of the fact that I am a full scripture person who doesn’t concentrate on any particular specific method of worship. I guess a person could say that I worship my triune God without concentrating on any one specific part of that trinity.
    I do believe in supernatural healing and have witnessed some people who spoke in tongues that definitely did edify the church in that the tongues that were spoken were known languages but spoken by people who had no knowledge of those languages and interpreted by someone who knew said language.
    At the same time, I’m not in line with the thought that one must speak in tongues in order to confirm my salvation via the workings of the Holy Spirit.

    Note: One in particular comes to mind is a girl who spoke in tongues and was translated by an older Japanese man who was in the congregation for the first time. The girl had no previous experience with Japanese but yet, upon speaking with the interpreter after the service, he said she spoke as though she was born and raised in Japan.
    I digress most severely.

    What I’m trying to get at is that whilst personality might enter into what one prefers at their place of worship such as hugging, I have found that behavior in all types and forms of worship.
    There are people in all walks of life who just like to hug other people and others who do not like to be touched period.
    Extrovert versus Introvert?

    Personally, I’m an introvert and do not like to be in crowds at all but if someone offers a hand or a hug or even a kiss on the cheek I’m okay with it even though I will normally not offer up the same thing.
    If I go to a Pentecostal service I’m the guy who isn’t overly demonstrative but I’m also not one to dismiss what someone else does.
    Matter of fact, there are times when I have gone to some quieter churches when I wished that the Holy Spirit would liven things up a bit.

    Now, regarding the personality part, there are those who go to a church to be entertained and to me, that definitely does take a more specific personality than any scriptural belief.
     
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  3. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I don't know that I've ever set foot in a true revivalist church, with the exception of an old fashioned tent service I went to because a friend from work was preaching. But that was easily 30+ years ago. For me, it had the same allure as the Bible study classes I've been seeking...bare-bones, focus on why we're there, no utility bills, no bake sales, no "fix our roof" fund...just focus on The Word.
     
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  4. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    I remember a church we use to attend in Jacksonville, Florida. It had a Praise Band during both Sunday morning Services. The band could get pretty loud in the sanctuary. Both Services had Bible Study held during the Service for those that chose to attend instead of going to the church service. We did that one Sunday and an older Senior lady, during Bible Study, complained to the teacher at how loud the Praise Band was. Their music could be heard thru the walls. The teacher said, "Since the younger generation runs this church, if you don't like how loud it is, you'll just have to find another church to attend."

    We also found out, concerning the same church, the Lead Pastor was making $1,000,000 a year salary. Along with one weekly Bulletin, before the new year started, was a Budget Bulletin. In that Bulletin, was stated how much the Ministry needed to fill their budget. From that, we figured out just how much the Lead Pastor was making. We got to know an older Senior Board Member and she told us that she was going to vote against the Budget, saying, "No Pastor should be making that much per year". Unfortunately, the vote went against her and he continued to get that salary.

    After hearing/reading about these two things, we stopped going to that church. We never again went to another Mega Church!
     
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  5. Ed Wilson

    Ed Wilson Veteran Member
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    I grew up in the Catholic Church and their services were the most God Awful boring thing that you ever had to sit through. A few years ago though, I attended a Catholic service after a really long absence, and there was a musical group and a singer up front instead of the choir and organ in the balcony like I grew up with, so they may be trying to liven things up a little.

    There is a Baptist church in the next town with a black pastor and a racial mix of members, and I intended to check them out before the pandemic hit but probably won’t now. A lively worship service is a good thing in my opinion since uplifting your spirits along with your spirit is a good way to go about it.
     
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  6. Marie Mallery

    Marie Mallery Veteran Member
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    LOL, sounds like the Baptist church I went o as a kid,they were very 'quite'.
     
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  7. Marie Mallery

    Marie Mallery Veteran Member
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    I read [ my interpretation ] was to worship with " timble or with brass". Soft or loud I guess is what it means,.
     
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  8. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    Baptist, Methodist, Catholic.

    The pastor says something, we all mutter back as thought we're auditioning as Day of the Dead extras, then there's music, then we leave.

    Of course, I exaggerate, but it's not real animated.
     
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  9. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I've always taken that to be in a participative manner and not as an observer.
     
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  10. Marie Mallery

    Marie Mallery Veteran Member
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    I was blessed with lots of energy so it was hard to sit still .I did listen and though.My friend and I ages between 10 &12 use to like to sneak into the church when it was closed and just sit and be quite . Church in west Atlanta never locked the doors when closed. No need back then.
     
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  11. Cody Fousnaugh

    Cody Fousnaugh Supreme Member
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    While living on the farm, during my high school years, we went to the Early Service at 8:15AM. My step dad/mom would always sit in the back row, at the end, next to the wall. Every Sunday, my step dad would do the same thing...........nod off when the sermon started. My step mom would have to nudge him to wake him up. I was sitting in a foldup chair in the back of the church. It was my job to give out the Sunday Bulletin and turn off the sanctuary lights when the Pastor would start his sermon. I think my step dad thought that once the sanctuary lights went off, it was time for him to go to sleep! LOL
     
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  12. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    That's interesting. I'm the same way.

    I have the keys to 2 of the 3 churches in the "charge" I belonged to, and have often gone in by myself to do work. I loved the solitude, and would sit there all by myself and meditate. It is so peaceful.
     
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  13. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    That's an interesting thing. In all of the 3 churches in the group I belonged to, there was only one other single man in attendance, and he came with his son and with his mother (his father stayed at home.) There were a handful of couples. and the majority were unaccompanied women...some married and others not (single or widowed.) It seems that men are almost always reluctant attendees.
     
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  14. Marie Mallery

    Marie Mallery Veteran Member
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    Seemed for some men the only chance of a good nap was in church. I know my uncle always slept through the sermons and my aunt only bothered him if he snored.
     
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  15. Ken Anderson

    Ken Anderson Senior Staff
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    I don't feel comfortable in a Pentecostal Church either, although I have only attended one Pentecostal service so I don't know if they are all like that. Then again, I don't feel comfortable in a Catholic service either, largely because I have to watch the people around me to know what I'm supposed to do next, and there is far too much exercise involved, with the kneeling, the standing up, and so on. I am also uncomfortable with loud, contemporary music in church services, and pretty much every large church as gone that route lately.

    I think it's just a matter of what we're used to, since most of us are uncomfortable with strange new things, particularly those that don't make any sense to us. That doesn't make them wrong, however.
     
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