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Interesting. As a former Southern Baptist myself (and my father still a Southern Baptist minister), I do believe I would have fallen over if there was any speaking in tongues (unintelligible ones). It's just wasn't done in any Southern Baptist church I've ever attended. I was always taught (and rightly so I believe) that the tongues mentioned had to do with other known languages.

As for speaking during a prayer, one thing I have noticed over recent years was an almost under the breath spoken agreeing with the person actually praying by those within the congregation, which was a little disconcerting for me. I suppose if the person feels led to do that, it's their business. But one of the reasons I have left the Southern Baptist church for the Methodist church.

As a former Southern Baptist myself (and my father still a Southern Baptist minister), I do believe I would have fallen over if there was any speaking in tongues (unintelligible ones). It's just wasn't done in any Southern Baptist church I've ever attended. I was always taught (and rightly so I believe) that the tongues mentioned had to do with other known languages.

Like any Baptist church I know of.

As for speaking during a prayer, one thing I have noticed over recent years was an almost under the breath spoken agreeing with the person actually praying by those within the congregation, which was a little disconcerting for me. I suppose if the person feels led to do that, it's their business.

It is. Personally, I think it a little distracting. But I have no problem with it. And a congregation of Frozen Chosen that never responds to its pulpit is, well, maybe a little bit out of the Baptist mainstream too. We have to recognize there are some cultural differences from region to region, conference to conference, convention to convention. Look, for instance, at the changes in the SBC hymnal. There are some modern songs in it now, even those written in the Nineties. Yes, the 1990's! And their composers not even yet decently dead! Well, I never... You may notice the more recent inclusion of folk variants of traditional hymns of the North, generally of Southern or Southeastern style so there are a number of identical hymns but with different melodies and rhythm. Again, I may not prefer them but I probably would if I had grown up with them. Baptists do still possess a considerable liberty as individuals and as independently governed churches. Narrow is the gate and strait is the way but we're not entitled to make it unnecessarily narrow for our own preference.

Another example of what you mention, the whispered-affirmation or plea, was one last week in our church. We had a man whose two sons were in a very bad car wreck and he almost broke into tears when he thanked God for sparing them. Very touching, even for a hardnosed Baptist like me. Our guest lay preacher was a Missionary Alliance church member and he uttered several "Praise-Jesus'-name" or similar under his breath. Not sure if everyone heard him or not since he and I were seated at the front and we had couple of buffer pews of old ladies behind him. I have no objection and agree with his sentiment and perhaps wish I were a bit more demonstrative myself at times, again, something well within Baptist tradition. But I don't know that I'd want to hear a constant barrage of it because it might distract me from the worship service.

But one of the reasons I have left the Southern Baptist church for the Methodist church.

Interesting. Just had to flag xzins over for this as he has an interest in Methodist doings. I wouldn't have guessed you as being currently Methodist. Your writing style and demeanor at FR have always struck me as pure Southern Baptist. Myself, I'm not as tough a Calvinist as I once was. And I have even softened up toward the Wesleyan hymns, again, many of which are now in the most recent SBC hymnal, something we would not have had when I was a youth.