Does strict really mean deeper worship/presence???
 

Read this on another site from a person who himself was questioning standards but gave this observation. What think ye?


" In every church I have attended through the years whether they were so called “strict” or “loose”, the ones who were the most “strict” (for the most part) had the most glorious services! The worship was the most amazing! It was deeply sincere and entirely from the heart. The worship of God was very deep and a strong beautiful presence of the Lord was in most of the services. It was not so much the case in churches that were more “loose”."

Re: Does strict really mean deeper worship/presenc
 

Re: Does strict really mean deeper worship/presenc
 

A friend of mine goes to a "strict" church. All he ever heard was how backslidden we were and how dead our services were.

He finally came and visited and was stunned. He said it was like being at campmeeting. He told his pastor how wrong he was. Compared to his church, we are the ones with the most glorious services and amazing worship, his church is pretty dead

Re: Does strict really mean deeper worship/presenc
 

It probably varies greatly from church to church.
Of course I am not so sure we can actually tell that easy either. From the pulpit to the pew, the mechanics of a highly emotional service can be learned and easily duplicated, whether intentional or not.

Re: Does strict really mean deeper worship/presenc
 

In one of those 'strict' churches, the Pastor would tell us when special speakers or special visitors came, we should dress our best and 'worship' more to give them a good impression of us.... He loved being known as a 'revival church.'

Sad, I know....

Re: Does strict really mean deeper worship/presenc
 

Broadbrushing for sure.

Amazing.

Re: Does strict really mean deeper worship/presenc
 

Usually, glorious is in the eye of the beholder. Most strict churches just look prideful to me and I ache at their misrepresentation of the gospel. I used to laugh at them but I can't anymore. Many in these churches have never heard the gospel.

Re: Does strict really mean deeper worship/presenc
 

I remember actually telling people (back when I was in the UPC) that God showed up more mightily at our churches because of the sacrifice of our standards... I have no idea where I heard or learned that, but I sure said it often enough.

Truly our righteousness is as filthy rags- there is NOTHING we can do to earn or gain salvation, it truly is a gift. I cannot be "more saved" because of giving up makeup and pants- nowadays I look at this mentality and become saddened, Christ is the ONLY one who truly sacrificed; not us. Even when call our worship a sacrifice of praise, it is NOTHING compared to what truly matters which is the all-covering Blood of the Lamb. The Lamb who loves me so very much and does not require me to earn His love.

Re: Does strict really mean deeper worship/presenc
 

It's purely perception. If you go to a church, and you're offended by what you see, you probably won't be able to appreciate their worship or focus on your own.

When you're looking around judging everyone around you, there's no way you have time to plug into God's presence or even notice that He's there.

Re: Does strict really mean deeper worship/presenc
 

The more I read this the more I'm amazed.