An Anglican in Christ Embassy, I can be expected to be feeling slightly out of place. The fact that I am in the service on a mobile device, and it's okay, already speaks of world of difference.
The service started with a prayer. A prayer interceded by no less than 1000 worshippers, and led by a pastor in tongues. The instruction being, join in tongues, and if you do not pray in tongues yet, then do so in whichever language you feel comfortable in. Those are a lot of tongues. That is also a spectacular sight. I rarely see hundreds of people dropping their guards and praying wholeheartedly as if nothing else in this world exists. Amn admirable feat and unfortunately something I am unable to fully describe in words. I have probably already done it a great unjust.
My concern is that I didn't feel that familiar cold sweat that I associate with the 'Great presence'. That matter I will reserve for another occasion.
The word lasted for probably a good hour and fifteen minutes, versus the Anglicans 15 minutes max. The main focus being to remember Lots wife, as well as several other little lessons. As different as the experience was, and at some stages as condescending as his (the Nigerian pastor projected against the wall in the absence of the resident pastor) attitude was toward other doctrines, his messages were of good quality and nature.
I suppose that in the 41000 reported Christian denominations, there is a place for everyone. I should be promoting the structuralist Anglican church, but while that structure is part of what I love, who are we to try and take that away from anyone else through our judgements. All denominations that I have had the privilege to experience have substantiation for their doctrines, all found in scripture and understanding (the Christ the mother ideology I came across on campus, admittedly was a bit daunting and largely out of context).
Additionally, we all wear different clothes as we were made unique, we are to use our unique talents to worship God; should we not then allow our individual personalities to worship in the way that fulfills us most and brings us closer to God?
As I write this I'm chiding myself mentally, what if the happy clappys are absolutely wrong and I get to the pearly gates one day and St Peter tells me that I am not wanted there on account of publishing and publicly condoning incorrect information and doctrines. Or what if we learn that our lifelong rituals were sucked out of somebodys thumb and that it was in fact the Word at its most raw, that was the correct way to receive it?
My puzzler is sore now, so I will conclude with my usual belief, I believe that my God is mighty enough (the girl next to me told me that I needed to be born again in order to enter the kingdom of heaven), to know who I am and what my will is. That the road of good intentions does not only lead to he
ll and that my Lord knows that as far as my beliefs may take me and my knowledge support me, I am a child of God to the best of my ability.
