Church Shopping: The Same But Different

Over the past month, I've been a Methobaptiluthertarian.

My girlfriend and I are church shopping. We're in a new town and we don't know many people; we're a blank slate. So, we're experimenting with different faith traditions.

A few weeks ago, we went to the local ELCA church and found it a little cold. Then, we went to the Presbyterian church and found it overly traditional, but very welcoming (the usher even gave us a hug). The third was a post-denominational church growing out of the rich musical tradition of the Baptists, but little structured liturgy. The fourth was a Methodist church with a strong social justice bent.

I've never considered myself to be conservative in my religious life. But these last few weeks, I seriously had to think about how my upbringing influences what I expect in church. Deep down, the tradition I was raised in shaped me. So, when the Eucharist isn't part of worship, I miss it. When the sermon isn't grounded in a specific reading, I miss it.

I don't know if all of this yearning for my roots will find me back in the pews of the church I grew up in. I don't know where it will lead me. But I know I the Spirit will take me there.