As a licensed and ordained full time minister I have read this thread with great interest. Its always interesting to see other peoples thoughts on subjects like this. I have refrained from commenting specifically although the temptation has been great. I have learned over the years that you aren't very likely to change most peoples religious views and that God is well able to get people where they need to be. I have also learned that nobody is right all the time, even the best preachers and pastors. We all make mistakes and miss it. A couple things I have learned is that LOVE ministers to people more effectively than any other type of ministry and that your PERSONAL relationship with God is more important than any church you can ever attend, and that comes from somebody who Pastors a church. Not every style of church will appeal to every person much like not every restaurant will appeal to everyone. As long as the Gospel is not being compromised and lives are being CHANGED into the image of Jesus, what does it matter that the music and worship and style of preaching may not be what you are accustomed too? The main thing in choosing a church is to go where YOU get fed a steady diet of the Word of God and are growing in your personal relationship with Him.

X2. I apologize and meant nothing against COTH. The conversation turned toward Joel Osteen and I got caught up in it because he is preaching such a dangerous message that is deceiving thousands. I should have started another thread since there was really no correlation between Osteen and COTH. My apologies.

I hope you didn't mean this the way I am visualizing you say it. If so it really gets under my skin when people have that attitude.

I'm good, I know what I experianced yesterday and loved it. I just feel that bickering and arguing between christians with different opinions does more harm to christianity than good. This and some of the threads I have read here in the past could leave a bad taste for some who are on the fence, and push them farther away.

I know it shouldn't be a contest and I apologize if I offended you. I take it to heart when my church is downplayed as a "rock and roll" service. Just because a church is enjoyable doesn't mean it's any less effective. Our mission as Christians is to lead others His way and Highlands has done very well doing so. Loud modern praise music isn't for everyone but it shouldn't be discounted.

Glad you enjoyed the service. It is great when we can worship the Lord no matter the setting.

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As for many of the other comments:

Maybe I'm a simpleton but to me a church that is inline with God's Word and inline with God's purposes for the church will always have at least these three characteristics:

1. Christ-Centered.
2. Gospel-Driven.
3. Spirit-Filled.

If a church is preaching Christ, from the Gospel, and the Holy Spirit is alive and active withing the church body then there will be evidence of it (similar to there will be evidence of a Christian life in anyone who claims to be a Christian). How?

1. Equipping believers
2. to share the Gospel
3. Locally and abroad
4. In order to Reach the Lost.

A church is very much like a person in that Matthew 6:21 equally applies in the real world: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." A church will show if it is on the right track by a look at the financials. There should be that great majority of money set aside for those purposes: $ earmarked to teaching and preaching to the members of the church to equip them, $ earmarked to support and equip families to be able to teach and train their own children in the Gospel, $ to local ministries, $ to USA ministries, $ to global ministries--with one single purpose--advancing the Gospel message and reaching the lost.

A church that is doing this might be huge like Briarwood PCA (my home church) or it might be a 20 member church meeting in an office building of one of the members. There might be traditional songs or rock-themed praise. There might be suits or cut off shorts. But a church that is Christ-centered, Gospel-driven and Spirit-filled will will be teaching the same things: The REAL Gospel, Salvation, Redemption, Repentance, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

Now there are going to be individuals in every church that seems to ruin the message. Church is full of sinful people or folks that just refuse to be kind or loving sometimes. Sometimes the church is run by these types so the whole church festers. Guess that will always be.

Didn't read any negative agendas. If what I said on an open forum discussion took away from your experience at church, I apologize.

I went this past weekend to the new Huntsville location. I enjoyed it. The singing portion was good, even though I'm not a fan of contemporary music for a morning worship service, I didn't hate it either. The sermon was sound and stuck to scripture to teach a message. Again, not as much as I'm used to, but I still left convicted, but empowered by the message. I still am a little perturbed by some of their church structure, by-laws and their main pastor's beliefs on speaking in tongues, etc. Overall, I'm cautiously optimistic that I've found a solid body of believers to plug into.

Fellas, I am wildly passionate about doctrine, apologetics bent, I have taught adult small groups for several years, but for the life of me I don't know what to respond about in this thread?? LOL It's all over the board, lots of general assertions without much context. But hey, I'm a Reformed amillienalist in a Southern Baptist church, so finding a church around here that would be compatible for me is just not going to happen. I just left a church of 17 years and joined another one that is very Christ-centric in it's preaching, and heavy on small group life. I agree with whoever it was above that said you're cheating yourself if you aren't doing life with a small group.

Bart it's either vanity or she aint getting what she needs at home.My mother is a very Godly woman but wears form fitting clothes.Mind you they are not trashy but very form fitting.Some people are more concerned about outward appearance than others.My $.02

You are correct and incorrect at the same time. There are a lot of those teachings going on. The Bible tells us to watch out for those teachings. All churches aren't teaching that. Come visit our church and you'll hear the Gospel preached.

Me too. I'm glad you experienced a true worship service. I get apprehensive when talking or reading about mega churches. I have never been to a COTH service so I can't comment on it. The Truth has never been popular and today the Truth of God is likely more unpopular than it's ever been. That is one reason that I am apprehensive about mega churches but as I said, I have no right to comment on COTH because I haven't been to a service there.