#79 Attend the services of the following churches: The Rock

This has been a goal/ideal of mine for several years.  Most of you know that I am a Latter-day Saint.  I've been raised in this faith since I was a child, and I have come to believe for myself that it is truth.  Yet, I have always had a strong desire to visit other churches.  I want to be well-educated, to know what's out there, and to be able to converse with people on there level.  I want to know which beliefs are unique to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and which are shared by other Christian faiths.  I have limited experience in this: I've been to a Catholic church and a Baptist church (loved it!).

The problem that I run into is that most churches are at times that conflict with my own.  The Rock Church, however, also has a service on Friday nights!  Friday at 7:24, which is not a ploy to get people to come on time...it's a scripture reference!  I was super excited to learn that.

I expected simply to listen to music...all I knew is that it was a church that played Christian rock music.  I was excited about that.  It turns out that it had a lot more to it than music.  We stood and sang 2 or 3 songs, then sat down and listened to announcements.  Then we listened to a short video (youtube-type) called "simply sowing stories" in which a guy encouraged us to share the gospel by sharing an experience he'd had with sharing the word of God.  Then we had a sermon that lasted 40-60ish minutes, via film.  I wonder if they have live pastors some of the time or if they usually have taped sermons?  Then we had several more songs.

It is no secret that Utah was founded by Mormons (the nick-name for people of my church), and I felt that this was a counter-culture to the mainstream religion, specifically Mormonism.  It was never outright said, but it felt that way.  I felt that they didn't accurately understand us (might I add that I am always very hesitant to say anything that may cause discord...I usually only share my opinion when I know everyone and I know that they will consider ideas without fighting, and when my opinion will add something useful.  But this is my blog, so I'm going on a limb here.).  For example, whether we are saved by grace or by works is commonly misunderstood by people.  They feel that Latter-day Saints emphasize works, whereas the evangelical churches emphasize grace.  This point was repeated a lot in the sermon.  However, we do believe strongly in grace as well.  Paul may emphasize grace, but James emphasizes the role of works.  I've heard it compared to rowing a canoe...if you just had one oar, you simply spin in circles.  You only get somewhere when you have both oars (which are compared to works and grace).  The works themselves don't save us.  It is Christ that saves us.  He paid for our sins.  I'm deeply grateful for His infinite atonement that helps me to overcome my weaknesses.  But Jesus also wants us to become something, so the works help us to become.  You need both.  The grace does the saving, but Jesus also requires you to be doers of the word and not hearers only.  Anyway, that's enough on that.  Just one little thing I wanted to clarify.

There were many things that I liked.  I like standing and participating in the music.  I liked that the songs taught a lot of doctrine and were based on scripture.  I felt my heart soften to be receptive to the truth in those songs, and what I learned/felt was an answer to prayer for me.  I learned new things in the sermon (which was about Acts 13).  It was a positive experience, and though I feel no desire to return, I do still feel the desire to visit the other churches I have planned.  It's very...expanding.  It's great to feel in the minority again, when I'm usually in the majority (religiously speaking).  I like meeting people that I wouldn't otherwise, and I like being exposed to other ideas.  :)

Have you ever visited churches other than your own?  What was your experience?