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I can't speak for anyone else, but I needed washed in the blood of my Savior as soon as I drew my first breath.

Yet another silly speculation from me; just what you've always wanted! For conservative evangelical churches which have rules and standards as conditions of membership (e.g., no drinking, smoking, dancing, or TV), I've had the thought that one must approach them in the same way as monastic...

I think that's where my hesitation comes from. Historically, Christian mystics have been tied into (or at least supportive of them; hermits rarely actually went to church) the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church. Omitting those seems to me to be crippling one's spiritual life's...

It's occurred to me that mysticism, while the word is not too common, is alive and well in Evangelical Protestantism today. The term used instead is "personal relationship with Jesus," and the language used to describe it is that of a friendship or romantic partnership. This figures a generally...

Do go on, please!

I had planned to yammer about the other Sacrament, the one that is more relevant to a church service, but it seems I'm not meant to, as every time I try, something gets in the way. I'll just name it instead: Holy Communion (the Eucharist, the Lord's Supper, call it whatever you like best. :-)...

About the Word, I mean, for example, where Scripture says it is "living and active," or that "faith comes by hearing" it. "An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us...

Sorry; it seems that I didn't choose my words very well. While God desires a lot of us, as any father would, the one thing he requires is faith, for without it the rest is all noise. Yet, we cannot get that ourselves; God must give it to us. He can do so in any way he pleases, but the way he...

Different cultures will most certainly express things differently, but again, they are worshipping the same God who requires the same thing of his children, so one might expect at least some continuity between them, right? In substance if not in structure?

That is, it doesn't matter, because the Father is pleased with whatever a group brings (no sarcasm, just me making sure I understand you right)? Surely there are limitations, though, aren't there?

But where is the community in that idea, though? The Church is a body; a bride, even. How best ought the Church corporately express to her head and groom the worship he deserves, in your opinion?

Thanks again for checking me there... as soon as I hit "submit" I wondered if I had just said that the potential for abuse takes away the rightful use, and it seems that I had! Amen. And that's my great stumbling block when I try to explain why I like liturgical worship the best... as much as...

That's true, but couldn't even usually mature preaching ending with the same sort of invitation every week cause some errors to crop up, whether or not it's well-intentioned? An example might be people asking to get "re-baptized," perhaps. As you said, I don't completely fault them either (it...

Don't forget the Wesleyans... they can cook like nobody's business too! I think that's another of my big objections. I like Metallimessu, and it even crossed my mind to wonder what effect a BCP Communion service in Klingon would get if held at a Trekkie convention (Eucharistic Prayer C...

What a story, indeed! I'm glad you've found your happy ending after all that (or it found you, perhaps). It sounds like you've got quite a church there.

Well-said, Iggy, the whole thing. What got you looking into Eastern Orthodoxy from being a Presbyterian?

My childhood church didn't (and doesn't) have a regular altar call either. Every now and again they'll have an "invitation," which I'll admit, never had the "poor, helpless Jesus needs you to ask him in" language that is being discussed here.

It was pretty conservative, actually. Not buns-and-dresses conservative, but morally and politically so. They were also very conscientious in talking about it, which is good in my opinion. They did, however, run a special program a couple years ago about Islam being some kind of evil genius...

But, as a Lutheran, you believe that man is always free to reject or resist that which is offered him, don't you?

I'd actually done research beforehand on the liturgical churches I'd visited, so I never really had to think about outsider accessibility before. I think maybe that's something I should be more sensitive toward in the future as well.