I have always kind of prided myself on not being having a consumer mindset when it comes to churches and which one I am part of. Over the past few months, however, I have realized that it is only because I have been part of the same church all my 27 years. I moved to Rock Hill, SC from Columbia last August, and since then I have been looking around for a church to be part of. Most Sundays I have been to Westminster Presbyterian, which is connected with the school I work for and where many of my students attend. I like the church, and felt welcomed by the people there when I first attended. I am frequently encouraged and challenged by the preaching, and the music is very well done in both contemporary and traditional services. The reason I have not joined is because I would like to look around and experiment with other styles and traditions to see if I might find a place where I can thrive more than in the Presbyterian setting I am used to. Also, I would prefer to be part of a group that is not so big; Westminster has close to 2000 members. I also prefer traditional worship, and to attend the class for single adults I have to worship in the contemporary service.
So far, my efforts to look around at other churches have not been very successful or profitable. For a while toward the end of the calendar year, I was not even waking up in time Sunday mornings to make it to church. Since then, I have attended First Baptist, Christ Episcopal in Charlotte, and today I went to First Associate Reformed Presbyterian downtown. I appreciated things about all of those, and the Sunday School at First Baptist seemed extremely vibrant and active, but I did not quite fit in any of those others, sometimes because I was not wearing a jacket (and I don't own one). I guess my desire for traditional worship will have to wait until my budget will allow me such highbrow tastes.
If I could be totally consumerish about it, I would probably go to the Sovereign Grace ministries group up in north Charlotte, because I think I agree with their beliefs and practices more than anyone else, and I imagine I would be challenged to grow in my faith there in a way that would be meaningful and persuasive to me more than anywhere else. That group combines reformed theology with charismatic freedom and expression in worship, which sometimes makes me uncomfortable, but I think it is how it is supposed to be. The reason I do not attend there is because it is a 30 minute or more drive, and I can't justify that ecologically, and my car would probably break down sooner with that kind of weekly driving. I also attended a Christmas music presentation at an Evangelical Free church in Charlotte, but I have not been there on Sunday morning yet.
I would still like to, and have said that I would, attend Christ Ridge Presbyterian, where one of my students' dad is pastor, and I have heard the big Belcher is there sometimes. Also the Free Methodist church that is across the street, and West End, where many of my students attend. I would also like to go back and be present for a complete service at Ebenezer Presbyterian, where my roommate is youth pastor. This process has definitely helped me tone down some of my narrow beliefs that have shaky biblical grounds, and look for the beliefs I have in common with other traditions.
