My wife loves good contemporary praise and worship. She goes to a great church that has a comtemporary recording artist as the music leader. ( Paul Baloche, Open the eyes of my heart) He won a couple Dove awards last year. The pastor is also great. He is humorous and shoots from the hip. And even though I like the church too, they tend to have a lot of guest speakers. Guest speakers almost never know when to shut up and I can't sit on their tiny chairs that long.
However I think what is happening to you has more than music at its core. I am sure some here will disagree but we are spiritual animals. Just follow your heart and the answers will come. When and if the time comes that your heart tells you to make a commitment, don't let doubt slow your footsteps. Run to Him!!.

 

It could be that this non-denominational church, after several months of hanging around the back of your head, has finally eaten away at any issues you may have with going to church. As a point of reference: My Mom and Dad were Nazarene when they married. Now nothing against Nazarenes, there are some very good people in that church, and probably the most Godly man I have ever met was a Nazarene, but they can be very boring. There's also a lot of "don't do this" there. I sometimes go to my Grandma's Nazarene church, but I really don't like the service, just go to talk to the gun guys that attend.
When I was about 5 or 6, we switched denominations, to a United Methodist church that was more concerned with you enjoying your christianity than beating you over the head with it. Now, not all Nazarene churches are as dull as the ones I've attended, and I've certainly attended some dull United Methodist churches.
But the trick is to find a church that gets out the message in a way that you enjoy, and you may have found it in this non-denominational church.
Too often we are preached at with what we're doing wrong or what we can't do. We should be celebating that we have a loving God and someone to watch over us.
The Old Testament was all about what not to do. The New Testament is all about celebrating and praising and just generally enjoying your life.

 

I have found denomonational churches to be a little to self centered and like to keep everything you get fed coming from their pipeline. There have been exceptions. The most powerful sermons I ever heard came from a young Assemby of God pastor in Anchorage. I also had a friend that was a Methodist minister and he was just one of the most highly thought of people around the whole community. A regular joe that was reachable to anyone, Christian or not.
I prefer nondenominational churches too, but I must say the most fulfilled I have been in a church was in a Southern Baptist church I attended when I first started going about 10 years ago. And it wasn't the church, it was due to two things. Number one was that I was involved and serving the Lord. The other was my mentor, a true man of God that loved people and had a tender heart. They eventually ran him off because they thought he had designs on the pulpit. He didn't. Even though he begged me not to leave the church because of it, I just couldn't stay around that church after that.

 

Seeing that you asked, I’d like to humbly and respectfully suggest taking a different perspective to your question…

God calls whom He calls into a spirit of repentance and obedience for His purpose and glory. Church is not a particular building as it was with the synagogue of the pre-Jesus Jew, where God prescribed the church ceremony. [Remember, God took lives if they did not follow the God prescribed manner of worship]. But the Bible says that God now dwells within those He has called, and His Church is the congregation of His believers in worship and praise of God through the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now my next statement may sound contradictory, but I agree with the others…that is -- if it’s music you seek, then seek the music. But if you are called to search for a holy and righteous God, then seek the truth of the Gospel of Jesus. [And this is the tough part I’m sorry to say, but not every church teaches this truth. I see the role of today’s church having three purposes and in this order… 1) Worship and Praising God through Jesus Christ, His Son, 2) edify, encourage and train the body of believers with the truth of the Gospel…equipping the saints, if you will and 3) reach out to those in need with the Gospel of Jesus, both physical and spiritual needs. If I found this church in your city, I’d be a member.]

One little test to know what’s what is self-examination. This test is not ironclad and it has a lot of room for cheating and self-deception, but it can have merit as a basis of your search if your heart is true. If you see yourself as sinful and unrighteous, especially as measured to the standards of a Holy and Righteous God, then it’s POSSIBLE that God may be calling you into repentance and salvation, though Jesus Christ. Seeking that 1st will follow with the praise and thanksgiving of song and music -- with a grateful heart and as worship, and not as it-feels-good-to-me alone.

Is it music or God’s calling of salvation? It’s up to you and God alone! Hopefully my comments offer you a biblical filter in deciding.

 

I thought the same way for years. Even though I was brought up in a Christian home, I wandered away from the church and did my own thing- partying, women, just being generally stupid...
But always maintaining my faith through prayer. I finally realized that it is a little deeper than that. We need more than just spirituality. Of this, I have no doubt. When my wife asked me to attend church with her (we were yet to be married), I graciously accepted, because at that moment in me life, I realized that I needed to get back to church. I have never been happier inmy life. The preacher has a great sense of humor, which I believe is necessary, and the music is terrific.

I guess what I am trying to say is that you should just follow your heart- you may find a happiness greater than you ever imagined. Good luck in your search.

 

(Other Bower here)
Thank you all for your replies, I have several trains of thought to follow now.
I don't like to be preached AT, and made to feel guilty if I don't follow the flock, as it were. I am at peace with myself and my beliefs. Possibly I am looking for others who feel the same, that won't judge me for them or tell me I am going to Hell if I don't conform to a particular religion's beliefs. The church I am thinking of returning to celebrates life and happiness through God, there are no stiff formalities or unspoken dress code, and everyone there is accepting of everyone else.
I will be attending holiday services at different churches in the area, as I try to do every year. I will find out then, I hope, if anything moves me to return.

Addendum: someone told me this church has evangelistic overtones. Not being familiar with it, except for what I've heard on TV (ack!) can someone tell me what this means? I didn't notice it when I was going there before, but then I don't know what to look for.

 

Then why do you need those other people, some who are bound to have the attributes you seek to avoid?

 

I think it has to do with the Evangelist trying to win souls for Christ. A preacher will give an invitation at the end of the sermon and the new believer will go up and 'profess his faith in Jesus' believing that Jesus was sacrificed for the good of all mankind and that you, the new believer, will now get to spend eternity in Heaven.
This may not be the most correct definition of evangelistic overtones, but it is most definitely the doctrine of Christianity.

 

georgedavila, Don't we actually have to deal with that issue no matter hwere we go? Any group of people you step into is going to have some with attributes you would rather avoid.

Otherbower, evangelizing basically just means preaching the gospel but evangelists tend to do it from a conservative approach. Look up the word in your dictionary for a better understanding. Personally I would lean toward a nondenominational church that reguards itself as full gospel. And while you can get a wide variety of opinions here or anywhere that you ask, your spiritual quest and ultimate journey will be as unique as any other relationship would be. Press on.

 

I'll second that.

 

I was thinking personal solitude with a spiritual overtone might be the unknown goal. I'd be curious as to why else one feel the confines of group worship to be a cause for exploration. As you point out, it's the same deal everywhere. People with common goals who gather provide a security blanket thinly disguised as an opportunity for social interchange.

 

Well put georgedavila, And even though the fellowship of other believers has it's merits, you will find the moments that you spend in prayerful solitude to be the most revealing.

 

Greetings,
Seek the truth, read a KJV, look out for yourself, time is short.