Many people don't believe in christianity not because of what it teaches, but because of the church. But not all churches are the same. My childhood church is in a building over 100 years old with pews and stain glass. There are bibles and hymnals in each row. The congregation varies in age from babies to senior citizens. There isn't a band, but there is a piano. There is a choir, but they don't sing into microphones and the congregation sings without being lead by a worship team.

Growing up in a traditional style church was wonderful because I learned the doxology and the Lord's prayer. I learned songs that are more than just the same verse over and over again. I learned that a small community cares when you do or don't attend a service; your absence is noticed. People care about you.

This sounds like I am criticizing non-traditional churches and in a way I am. I understand that everyone needs something different and for some that style works. But it doesn't work for me. It also concerns me that churches are moving away from the core values they are supposed to be teaching.

To me, religion is a tool used to explain the unexplainable, while a church is a community of people that all support that explanation. I am basing my opinion off of few experiences, but from what I have seen is that the church community has become a lot more about the technology and the hype than the word of God.

I don't understand how putting my hand in the air while others sing praise to God is worship? I want to sing my own praise. I want to be part of a group of people that sings off key to a piano because that is when I feel closest to God. I don't want to be sang at. I don't want to follow a powerpoint for lyrics when I have no idea how the melody goes. Sure the lights on stage are cool, but nothing can beat the streams of light coming through the floor to ceiling stain glass windows.

I want the money I donate to my church to go to helping the community in their every day lives not purchasing a new sound board for my church service. Maybe I am old fashioned, but I think a church is more about the people and the words shared than anything material found in the building.

I may be on the line about whether or not I believe in God, but I choose the people of my church. I think that many churches have lost sight of what is important in the journey of being a Christian, but I guess as long as you believe in something it doesn't matter where you do it.