I was looking at performers.
The conservative preachers strut and prance like bantam roosters. It is no different than the televangelists who posture and emote. They call upon the name of God. They pound their Bibles and shake it in our faces. I looked around the congregations that I was in and found some fear, some boredom, some apprehension, but little cognizance.
That was that church and that preacher and his style.
Not everybody preaches in the style you prefer.
The churches I have been in, had very good preachers. I do not like the fear-mongering style of preaching that seemed to be more popular in my youth.
Seems the past generation used that. Finally they started preaching about God’s grace.
I have heard several COC preachers say that in their youth they use to feel that if they did not get in one last prayer for forgiveness, they were goners.
Yet, this generation teaches more of God’s gift of grace and the wonder of it. This opened up a whole different view of religion for me. You treat that gift with respect and honor and serve not from fear of loss of salvation but out of love.