Kinsmen

I'm now four weeks into this adventure. Last weekend I noticed that I have changed. Out of curiosity and having extra free time, I went to a Wesleyan church I saw advertised before a movie. I walked into the church and there was this sense of familiarity. Much like other churches I have been to in the past this Wesleyan church functioned in the way I have been raised. The prayer time sounded the same, the worship music was more songs you hear on the radio, no comments during the sermon, and the sermon was good and solid with take homes. I was out of church within an hour. All felt normal and even a sigh of relief to know what was going to happen next.

However, what I noticed hovering around in my head was how I wanted the praise line (mosh pit), I wanted the sermon to go on as long as the pastor felt led, to hear people verbally agreeing with the pastor, and I even missed hearing those around me quietly praying in tongues...how far I have come in four weeks.

On Sunday at Lighthouse there was a difference in my praise line time and going to the altar. I sang a little more passionately and understood why I was at the altar. People prayed over me using the gift of tongues and it felt comforting.  God, through this journey, is opening my eyes to see that underneath the lines in the sand which denominations have drawn we really are much more alike than we think.

Two Sundays ago, during Sunday night worship we were told to look at a passage with our family unit asking what verse we like best and why. The passage was Genesis 13 1-13. The verse that stood out to me was 13:8 which states, “Then Abram said to Lot, ‘Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen.’”

Why this verse you might ask. It is because I look at the denominational lines as arguing points between kinsmen. We argue over things that at the end of the day will not matter, unless for instance it has to do with salvation which is only through belief in Jesus. Churches have made mountains out of mole hills. Instead of finding commonality we look for how our denomination is right. We fear crossing paths with “those” people.  

Being in an Assembly of God (AG) church I am finding my kinsmen. There are people I am growing to love and care for each week. I am looking forward to worship and seeing faces. Sure, I am still shocked at different times until I understand what just happened, but overall, I am so happy to be learning from a great group of people. There is such joy and passion in their worship that I have never really seen in churches I had gone to before.

Kathy gave me the first week I was here 16 doctrinal truths every AG church must agree on to be part of the AG denomination. She gave them to me so I could assess if there was anything glaring, I had questions about. There was the doctrine of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, which was different. Yet, as I read through, I found the list to share much of the same foundational truths I had grown up being taught in Methodist, Baptist, Evangelical Free, and Presbyterian churches. We had more in common than we had in differences. 

When I went to the Wesleyan church Saturday, I found kinsmen. As I found when I got to go to Bible Study Fellowship for my first time ever, they are my kinsmen too. I do not want to be afraid to cross over the denominational lines or be so set in a certain denomination that I would not step foot in another denomination. We can all learn from each other. Often when I walk into different churches, I find God is speaking a similar message to the Methodist as He is to the AG.

Selah

Four weeks in...I should think more of what I am doing or what is next, right? I can say I have learned more about the AG and seen my worship pattern change in a good way. God is surrounding me with great people to rough out some edges and some to encourage me along the journey.

This week from Thursday- Saturday God blessed me with the ability to take one last trip to Epworth, a place I have gone to all my life. I used some gift cards I had stored up for gas and food, not to mention my aunt was in town to feed me a home cooked meal. When I stepped onto Epworth there was such joy. I ran straight to Bluebell and began to worship God on the beach.

Hitting Epworth, I realized just how much I needed a break from the constant growing I am experiencing at Lighthouse. For the few days I was able to clear my head to process what has happened so far and think about what is to come in a safe place. Even with the hot water heater turned off so I had to boil water on the stove for the bath I had so longed to take, being at Epworth is always worth the trek. 

Leaving Epworth, I know that the same joy and excitement I felt walking and paddling around Epworth is what I want to transfer into my worship time with God at Lighthouse. At Epworth, I find myself draw closer to God and praise Him more freely. In the safety of Epworth is where I first prayed in tongues. Epworth has a special knack for bringing me to a place of awe before the Father.

 The church should have a similar effect on me. I should stand in awe of the Father or jump for joy at His unfailing love. Seeing familiar people should bring smiles to my face as I share life with them.

My challenge for the week is to head back to Lighthouse with the same emotions. Being at church should be worth the trek even if it means extra work. I am looking forward to what God will do in the next four weeks. I am hoping the afterglow of being at Lighthouse and meeting with God will shine on my face as beautifully as the sunset Friday night.