#feastingonchrist

[feastingonchrist]

Gosh i love learning about theology and Christian history/denominations sooo much! Redeemed Zoomer is not my favorite person to learn from...other than the very bare minimum about different denominations within Christianity, but his videos are fun to watch as a curious introduction into Christian churches, their theology and how they each do things differently. Whether some are in closer unity with one another Catholic, Orthodox, the mainline protestant churches or really not even at all, (other protestants), we are all united in Christ and believe the core doctrines of Christianity. I will also say that watching Zoomer's videos made me want to go back to church again!!! I joined my church on a curious whim just by stepping out in faith and it's so awesome to see how God has been working in that area of my life and faith journey! *btw this isn't a post about theology, i just wanted to say that cause i was watching/studying theology for most of the day. It has been fascinating me for the past year now. But this is a post on my experience at some Baptist churches vs my Methodist church.*

For the longest time, i didn't want to attend church because the only types of churches i had been to were Baptist (with a contemporary worship style) and i cannot connect to God during that worship style. I didn't even feel like i was apart of the congregation, either. The atmosphere felt very cold, though the people weren't rude. it's just not been a very inviting experience. It feels almost "corporate". I feel too distracted in that type of worship setting. The music is just too loud, the lights/projector screens are too bright/flashy, and i don't like contemporary worship music in church...something about it makes me want to claw my eyes out!!!!!!!! It's so whiny and goes on for way too long. I actually don't mind some contemporary songs if they have good lyrics and music. I just don't enjoy it for a Sunday morning church service, it's not bad for a casual Wednesday night or Sunday night service. It's too overstimulating on top of the loud instruments playing over the songs on the loud speakers. I do prefer a traditional worship service, but that is just me. It's much more grounded and God-centered. The congregation feels more united, too. I like how we say the Creed & Lord's Prayer together. Something about the worship style/environment is so simple, yet profound and pure (it's hard to put my thoughts and feelings into words here.) There's no distractions on stage or any loud instruments that are so unbearable to where i want to leave the sanctuary and never come back to the church because i am legitimately overstimulated and exhausted for the rest of the day...I feel refreshed spiritually, socially, and physically after church on Sundays. That is a HUGE BLESSING. I also like how my church isn't massive and everyone knows each other, it has a genuinely friendly and warm environment that i have never been apart of before. That's the church environment i prefer to be in and what i had been praying for for so long. Now that i am here, i long to attend church on Sundays and i didn't know how much i was lacking spiritually (me taking steps of faith and seeing God show up for me) and even socially (forming new relationships with other believers!) My church isn't even THAT traditional/liturgical, it's kinda in the middle, though it's lower church compared to other UMC/mainline protestant churches, yet still higher than non mainline prot churches. Especially since my UMC church split and joined the GMC and some theology nerds are mad about that and yeah i guess technically we aren't considered mainline anymore, but i don't really care. Maybe one day we can unite again... btw, our church checks still say united methodist on them LOL. I do, however, want to visit a truly high UMC service one day to see what that is like. I'm sure it's wonderful :)

Anyways, this is where i'm drawing the line on this conversation. I didn't write any of this to bash other forms of worship or to brag about mine. trust me, i have been apart of these types of conversations before, i see it all the time. Especially the Catholic/Orthodox vs protestant arguments. They make me sad and seeing that constantly is beyond frustrating! But i just wanted to write this based off of my own experiences in these two different types of church settings. Let me know your thoughts if you have gotten this far! I am not at all an expert on theology/church history. I know next to nothing about it cause i never knew there was this much richness and infighting within The Church or all this history in how the denominations formed and why, etc. It's so cool, though! A huge interest for me now, too. I decided not to do too much format editing cause i wasn't sure where to break anything up into paragraphs, nor did i want to make this post longer so i do apologize for that. I kinda didn't feel like it, either. Normally, i do though. So i'm soory fot those on mobile, lol!

[feastingonchrist]

new blog hehe! i'll be starting this page up soon once i figure out what i'm gonna be doing here. i'm kinda forced to make a new blog anyway cause i can't use any of the tumblr features on that account due to a lack of email verification....and the app keeps glitching, so if i deleted it, i'd have no way of logging back in and i'd lose access.

about me: i'm a female in my mid-twenties and i came to Christ around 4 years ago. He has completely changed my life (and still is!) i am currently apart of a conservative Methodist church (previously UMC - though now GMC - Global Methodist Church.) I am just starting out my new job there, and i am seeing where else the Lord is leading me!

i love to cook, write, music, theology, biblical art and tradition, beauty, fashion, animals and nature, and exploring biblical femininity as God has been healing and restoring that area of my life. I'm learning how to further commune with Christ and find ultimate freedom in Him. He's having me step out in faith, through the fear, and trusting Him, as He gives me peace, hope, joy, and so much more. I am feeling so blessed in this current season of life ♡︎.

My ask box is open!!

[feastingonchrist]

I may or may have not spent 12 hours completely hyper-focused listening to videos on theology (debates, opinions on protestant worship, Christian psychology, and Christian denominations) and then visiting the Global Methodist Org website to learn more about it, reading the catechism and seeing which churches in my state/area are also apart of that on their map in case i ever wanna visit a new church when i'm in the area!! I saw my church on the map hehehe and so i went to our website and read a few of the Wesleyan beliefs the church adheres to!)

I did do it..... and i'll do it again. I had so much fun. It brought me joy to talk to God about it after i was finished. I'm obsessed.*