Yeah. There seems to be a vast gulf between Mennonite churches. The one in Raleigh likely mirrors your experience in NJ. With the advent of the internet, I was flat out shocked at what all was going on in the denomination outside of my little slice of western MD and PA. I guess too many old hippies saw the pacifist designation, joined up, and ruined things.
Speaking of which, I did pass one by an hour west of here when I was riding my bike last December. It was the middle of the week, and a lady in the traditional garb watching some kids caught my eye. I looked them up online, looked like a very recent church plant.
If I had to change it would be to the Eastern Orthodox faith tradition. They still hold true to what was taught from the early days of the newly emerging Christian Church.
I agree. I am charismatic, meaning I believe the gifts of the spirit are still present today. However, there is a huge difference between speaking in tongues (speaking an actual language that someone can translate that you did not know previously) and praying in the spirit ( groans when you don't know what to say). Neither of which are gallialia (I think that's how it's spelled) which is gibberish in my opinion.
I’ve tried my best to embrace churches in general but alas, not comfortable with a one of them. Maybe it’s because I don’t see any Holy Spirit moving in them (meaning the ones I have been to) or maybe it’s a church serving it’s own understanding without desipling, I don’t know
I have toyed with many ideas, like going back to the Catholics......almost did but the HS convinced me otherwise. For a long time I would just walk my dog around the neighborhood and talk to people, ask questions like “ so how is God working in your life today?” You know, get them thinking. But people are lazy.
I agree with the Orthodox on some key doctrines because these agree with the NT and earliest churches -- for instance, their views of the atonement. But I disagree in important areas, too, because of the divergence from the NT and earliest churches.
Well, since at one time or another I have attended:
Catholic Charismatic
Church of God (Indiana)
Evangelical Free
Pentecostal
Calvary Chapel
Southern Baptist
... I would probably be hard pressed to find Christians that I could not worship with.
(and I am both a 5 point Calvinist and a Credobaptist in theology).