You echo a lot of the reasons why I haven't gone to church in many years. I'm at the point in my life where my faith is as firm as it's ever been... but at the same time I don't really feel "at home" at most churches. I sense the nearness of God more when I'm on a lake in a kayak early on a Sunday morning than sitting in a pew watching a worship team. And I'm not exactly an old guy either (36)! That's not to belittle what they're doing of course, because clearly it works for some people, and I've had friends become more interested in attending church because of the modern-style services. But I definitely miss the reverence and quiet pondering of the church services I grew up with, not to mention the beautifully arranged and deeply meaningful hymns.

Thank you for your post! It's great to see thoughtful pieces like this on social media.