I've been to a lot of houses. Lots of friendly people, but I would recommend staying out of strange basements, attics, and bedrooms. Stick to the living room and kitchens.
Yes, so many stories like this from over the years, and that's just from being curious and noticing things, even without making much effort to explore. And what you find is within a single denomination, there are countless sub-groups that themselves have quite varying characteristics.
The Church of Jesus Christ is HUGE, and as someone observed about China, it's hard to make generalizations about anything with so many people (and the Church has probably more people now than China and India combined). I'm sure we have much to learn from one another, if we can can — like any family — not get bogged down in squabbling too much.
There is a common cul-de-sac where none are unwelcome. There is a universal, unmoving foundation which is the confessional thing you talk about. It's the universal Church. Something to be said for ecumenism, even though it's kind of weakly embodied in entities such as NAPARC. It's best to realize that the universal Church is boundless and spiritual. Thus, even grossly Roman Christians, and horribly sensual Pentecostal Christians, and oddly Nestorian Coptic Christians, and the utterly sinful and fallen stalwarts in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and brand new converts who recently got turned on to Vodie Bocham sound bites all find their ONLY hope and comfort at the same feet, the beautiful feet of Jesus. I'm certain that most of those weird categories mentioned include many who do not know why that's their cul-de-sac, and so are persuadable (or curious) about other stuff (like Westminster).
I like the curiosity in this - and would like to nudge you further.
I spent a bit of time investigating a hymn writer from 3 centuries back and discovered that it was much the same in his day - only you went to jail for being in the wrong neighbourhood. However, Isaac Watts' hymns are probably sung in every cul-de-sac and main road.
I've been to a lot of houses. Lots of friendly people, but I would recommend staying out of strange basements, attics, and bedrooms. Stick to the living room and kitchens.
Yes, so many stories like this from over the years, and that's just from being curious and noticing things, even without making much effort to explore. And what you find is within a single denomination, there are countless sub-groups that themselves have quite varying characteristics.
The Church of Jesus Christ is HUGE, and as someone observed about China, it's hard to make generalizations about anything with so many people (and the Church has probably more people now than China and India combined). I'm sure we have much to learn from one another, if we can can — like any family — not get bogged down in squabbling too much.
There is a common cul-de-sac where none are unwelcome. There is a universal, unmoving foundation which is the confessional thing you talk about. It's the universal Church. Something to be said for ecumenism, even though it's kind of weakly embodied in entities such as NAPARC. It's best to realize that the universal Church is boundless and spiritual. Thus, even grossly Roman Christians, and horribly sensual Pentecostal Christians, and oddly Nestorian Coptic Christians, and the utterly sinful and fallen stalwarts in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and brand new converts who recently got turned on to Vodie Bocham sound bites all find their ONLY hope and comfort at the same feet, the beautiful feet of Jesus. I'm certain that most of those weird categories mentioned include many who do not know why that's their cul-de-sac, and so are persuadable (or curious) about other stuff (like Westminster).
I like the curiosity in this - and would like to nudge you further.
I spent a bit of time investigating a hymn writer from 3 centuries back and discovered that it was much the same in his day - only you went to jail for being in the wrong neighbourhood. However, Isaac Watts' hymns are probably sung in every cul-de-sac and main road.
https://datchet.substack.com/p/religion-never-was-designed-to-make
He managed to keep an open heart while focusing on promoting the truth he believed in.
Enjoy...