I think we are beginning to see doctrinal differences surface in this discussion. For instance:
RB's church:
Pre church demeanor is thoughtful, worshipful and quiet as an organ plays some beautiful hymns. The conversatons that are going on are in hushed tones. A wonderful, contemplative atmosphere.
TexanToTheCore's church:
The band is warming up (18 musicians), lots of sound floods the church. Praise team members are taking one last run-through, rehearsing difficult passages. The video team is running tests on their cameras, the video production team is in their seats switching from camera to camera, the sound engineers are running tests on the system to make sure that the settings that they worked all week to set up are still good and true.
There are knots of people praying in various locations of the church, some led by Bible Study teachers others led by friends and neighbors. Some are crying others are smiling. You hear laughter over the din.
As the congregation comes in, people greet each other loudly, hugging and sharing their week's experiences. Friends in trouble are asked for an update and prayers break out!
Casual dress, usually business casual, is the rule of the day. Many of the teenagers come in with their friends, dressed in jeans and Jesus tee-shirts. One says "Jesus Rocks!", another "Jesus is the one!". Others have scriptural quotes (our church must have a "tee-shirt budget" that is eye watering, I get several per year).
Deacons are scurrying across the sanctuary (very large)making sure that all is in readiness. Greeters are greeting and ushers are ushing.
Congregants are finding their seats, removing their Bibles from their Bible covers. Some have tooled leather, others "ballistic nylon" and some have denim covers with a country motif. The people take out their pens and hold them in readiness to make notes in the margin of their Bibles.
You can feel the excitement build.
The Music Minister makes his way from the podium to the front of the choir loft, carefully negotiating fiber optic and electrical cables and yells to the choir "Let's go to prayer!". Over the din of the band, he shouts a 2 minute prayer that asks for the wisdom to use our skills to praise Him ,to bring others to Christ, and to move those things in their hearts that keep Jesus from entering. As he finishes, singers lift their arms and and shout Amen.
The Music Minister makes his way back to the podium and calls for the attention of band and choir.
He begins the the intro for the first song, "Days of Elijah". Everyone in the congregation looks with expectation to the choir. Many of the choir singers are now bobbing their heads in time to the music as they stand. As the intro coninues, many singers begin to clap and sway to the music.
He gives the cue for the choir and a wall of sound rolls out of the choir loft, filling every cavity of the church, shaking the rafters and filling every heart with the joy of Jesus. It is loud and it is joyful beyond measure. Some of the choir singers raise their hands as they "get in the spirit". The congregation begins to clap in time to the music, the sound is now overwhelming.
We rock His House, in celebration of our Salvation through Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and His Grace.
How different our churches are, and yet.....