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But the call to its members was not to move to another city, but to overcome.
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While I understand what the scriptures say and mean about overcoming, I don't understand your statement about moving or not moving to another city. I am not sure why you made that statement. I knew the LC 'raised' churches in different cities but they got that from the RCC !! The RCC has parishes all over the world, as do the Baptists, Mormons, JWs, and even charismatics.
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So, how do you define "Spirit filled"? Does the appearance of a history of common practice deny the Spirit filling the participants and bringing their tradition, liturgy, and ritual to life?
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Mike. Defining "Spirit filled" is not something set in black and white. I've been around "Noisy" Christians, and "Quiet" Christians..Loud services and quiet services. Some are truly Spirit filled and some simply have the appearance. I think you have enough discernment in you to understand exactly what I am talking about. Sometimes we run into someone we don't know, strike up a conversation and realize that person truly KNOWS, that is, has a real relationship with GOD. You just feel blessed by being around them. Other times, you might strike up a conversation with another Christian who acknowledges God, talks about His Goodness but there is something lacking. You can't exactly pin it down but you just know in your spirit something is not right.
Something else I've learned about being "Spirit filled", a person's spirit can run dry. So a person might be "Spirit filled" one day and the next day, they got no oil in their lamp.
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We are still so quick to throw out so much because it is not our preference.
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Apparently, you didn't quite understand why I explained in detail my time with all the different 'church' settings I've been in. I wasn't just a 'visitor', or one who sat in the 'back pew' for a couple of years. Initially, especially when I first began attending the church here, I had to fight with everything in me not to be judgmental and critical. For someone who was out of the LC for umpteen years, that critical spirit sure rose up in me the first few months. Sometimes, my spirit was correct in seeing the shortcomings. Other times, I simply wanted to dismiss what was said or done because it was not my preference.