These discussions come up from time to time... why are the more conservative churches growing? My answer is simple and clear- many people in this world need structure, and conservative churches will line your life out for you. Some people also need a sense of certainty. They just want someone to tell them how it is. Conservative churches will do this for you. In many of them, the pastor has little or no education whatsoever. In some denominations, all you have to do to become a pastor is to tell the congregation that you are feeling "a call." But if you want to know for certain, there are churches that will tell you how it is.
The problem is, they don't know how it is, anymore than I know how it is. God is not an idea, a person or a god that can be controlled. He is by nature bigger than us and so there will always be questions and ambiguity about this life and our relationship to God.
I personally am comfortable with ambiguity. I don't have to know it all. Heck, if I know everything about God, that makes God pretty small. I am fine with knowing that he is bigger. I am fine with knowing that there are some things that I will not have the answer to in this life.
For me, to pretend that you have the answers is just that- pretend. If you talk to Christians that seem to know it all- run the other way.
I am totally fine with falling into the joy and mystery of a God who is bigger than me and my questions. To me, that is the essence of loving God and the core of the concept of worship.
I don't need certainty. I am fine with ambiguity.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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