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Thanks everyone, really appreciate the thoughtful responses here. I also listened to Shawn’s take on the call-in hour today and found it helpful.
Honestly, I’m still a bit conflicted. Pentecostal expressions are the hardest one for me personally, they’re just not something I resonate with, even though that’s where we seem to keep landing, cause there are so many close to home and my wife likes the fun it brings. I can sit more comfortably in historic traditions (Anglican, Catholic, Orthodox, my great-grandparents were Orthodox after migrating post-WWII), but over time I’ve also realised I don’t actually need the institutional side of church for my own faith.
If I’m being real, going to church right now would be for my wife, not me. I know marriage involves compromise, and I’m trying to navigate that well. Where I struggle is with environments that place pressure on people spiritually or assume authority over conscience, especially around ideas like “levels” of faith. That’s a big tension for me.
My instinct would be much simpler: Sundays as a family, time together, Scripture, prayer, walking it out in real life, and community happening naturally through relationships, not programs. I know others see this differently, and I respect that.
Still figuring this out. Grateful for the wisdom and grace in this space.