Yes you are making sense. I too have been in those places where the Spirit is missing. Some of those “ritualistic” churches simply do “mouth the words”. Generally I can sense the lack of the Spirit the moment I walk in the door of some of them. Give me those churches and places where the true joy of the Lord is. If some don’t raise their hands in praise they haven’t felt the presence of the Spirit.
Amen. As a kid, I attended churches where people did raise their hands in praise and some even started shouting. Give me a church like those over any “dead” churches. People in my SB are free to lift heir hands in praise to our Lord and Savior. I often wonder if people in Osteen’s and other churches would even consider doing that. I have even heard that it is considered too emotional. So what? It is past time to be excited about Jesus and what He has done for us. We should not just go through the motions of attending church. I can not wait until I get well enough to start back. Sometimes, I wonder if I will ever get back to feeling like I use to. I need to call my surgeon to schedule my other surgery. I have noticed I see double sometimes. I know she did not want to overdo the surgery which might cause other problems. It is kinda hard sometimes.