High Church vs Low Church

I was thinking about the distinction between high church and low church because the Bruderhof where I live is unique in that it's a former Redemptorist seminary so more of a high church feel than this Anabaptist was used to.
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[@davidwatson9064]

As a high church man, who came from a low church background, I must say, I so appreciate your respect and charitability to the tradition. Much love.

[@ryanmathis8286]

I feel like I was raised low church (if I understand correctly) and has only gone lower. I will say I love how beautiful the High churches are. Do you mind if I can ask questions without fighting? I would love to discuss this and have a productive convo.

[@Janika-xj2bv]

Seeing a young lady so devoted and pious fills me with Faith and Hope. God bless her

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thanks! God bless you too ❤️

[@LifeAsAnonymous]

As a Quaker who attends an in programmed meeting, I love the low church approach. I love it’s emphasis on community, simplicity, and fostering a direct relationship with the spirit.

[@ryanmathis8286]

So where would Quaker fall?

[@lynnewilliams542]

I don’t care what you call it, your way of living as a religious community makes a lot of sense. Doing good work with the community makes a lot more sense than adhering to rituals. You appear very happy. It shows in your entire face.

[@Sayu277]

high church does not mean there's no community work (there's actually quite a lot of it)

[@georgerafa5041]

High church does more for community than low church. Catholics have way more hospitals, orphanages, soup kitchens..etc. than all protestant churches combined. There's nothing 'wrong' with ritual. It being 'weird' to your modern sensibilities is irrelevant.

[@John-FourteenSix]

That’s great Laura. It’s lovely to see how you guys are living a mature, humble life in Christ. I was brought up High Anglican, but grew away from it as I didn’t feel I was getting meaningful answers to life in general. After a difficult period I came to Christ in a personal way with the Pentecostal church, but after a short time I found this all a bit too intense. The expectations were way too high and seemingly they expected most people to speak in tongues! After a long time away, I finally found the Free Methodists, evangelical, lots of music and singing, lots of prayers and Bible study and much more rounded about spiritual gifts. I formally joined following a full immersion baptism - The one best single thing Ive ever done in my life! I’ve been with them for a few years now and I just keep growing and learning a bit at a time. God Bless you.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you!

[@britty4755]

I love all the Christian faith expressions. From the Bruderhof's humbelness, to the African American church faith, to the evangelicals worship, to the catholic tradition. All the various ways of worshiping God around the world must be like a beautiful mosaic to God. His holy spirit must love going from one community to the other. From the reverent prayer to the expressive shouts of joy. It is a symphony of praise and worship.

[@salty_commuter819]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! My point exactly!! Finally someone who shares this part of my views at the Faith. I really hate all of this gate keeping bs about 'Our church is better than yours!' I always tell them to read Romans 14 which valids exactly what you said....

[@mvj1153]

@@salty_commuter819 Wow! I just read Romans 14 again after reading this ( I'm a new Christian ) and it just changed my viewpoint on other denominations. Thanks for both of your statements!

[@georgerafa5041]

​@@mvj1153Romans 14 has nothing to do with different denominations and is entirely about people within the same church being snobs due to adherence to Old testament Jewish food laws.

[@ishamehrotra8340]

You have such a subtle face with a sweet voice. Thanks for a calm explanation. I am an Indian, from a Hindu family and somehow bumped into this dichotomy as I was reading Victorian literature. I can see all the discourses in the comments coming from their own experiences, and I just hope for people to stay as comfortable as they’re with each other’s ideas and faiths here, in every corner of the world.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you so much 🙂

[@lisaeshleman754]

I am a convert to Catholicism so I love the High Church. As you said, our liturgy dates back to the apostles which I find mind blowing and awesome. The mass however can be done in a "low" form as well. Even if it were said in an open field or alleyway, it would still be the highest of highs for me because of the real presence of the Lord in the eucharist, probably the most fundamental Catholic teaching. I love to see your way of life and hope to live more and more simply as I grow older.

[@williamjameslehy1341]

I'm a cradle Catholic who was raised in the ultra-liberal and low church environment of 1990s Archdiocese of Boston. I left as a teen but returned in my late 20s, and started attending the most old school high church parish I could find. I can't believe that anyone could experience a proper mass and then decide to abandon it in favour of felt banners, minimalist altars and guitars & keyboards. I am at home in the ancient traditions of the Church, and never want to stray from her again.

[@lisaeshleman754]

@@williamjameslehy1341 thank you!!! amazing testimony. i am a convert to the faith so i’ve experienced all that you’ve mentioned. once you recognize the eucharist for what it is you can’t go back!

[@largemale8129]

@@williamjameslehy1341 same dude, I found the sspx in 2012 and never looked back.

[@rubyray777]

Thank you for your great explanations. I am a high church going Roman Catholic. And one of my favorite things to do is learn about other religions and learn from them. I did grow up low church as an evangelical Christian and converted later. I also studied religious studies in college, so I am well versed with the history of Anabaptists, Protestants, Catholics, Orthodoxy, etc. It helps that I belonged to a protestant faith first and then a Catholic faith later. I am constantly at war with myself between the 2 extremes of each side. It's interesting! Your videos are a wonderful teaching tool, and thank you for these! I know it is not Anabaptist, but I seriously considered becoming a nun for several years. I felt a calling for the longest time, and even visited an Order to find out more. I struggled in the long run with the permanence of giving up material goods, and living in poverty and felt really bad about it, because I wanted to serve Christ so bad. But I think Christ has put me where I need to be in this moment of life with my job, which is working for a nonprofit, as it's my way of serving God and Jesus in giving back. Anyway, your videos and lifestyle remind me of that time in my life. The simplicity and support you give one another is beautiful, and a definite example of the way Christ calls for us to be. God bless you and your family! Please keep sharing!

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you for responding!

[@_matt_arnold]

When my dad (Hardy &Edith Arnold’s child) left the bruderhof with his family in the UK we grew up in the so called ‘low’ community based churches, although I certainly didn’t think of them as ‘low’ in any way at the time, lots of fun and good childhood memories, I came across the ‘high’ church last year when we started to attend our local church (An Anglican church) during our confirmation process I found out I was attending a high church (by asking ‘err what is a high church..)- to be honest I don’t think it really matters - always do the best for others then everything falls into place is my thinking 😊

[@embr4065]

You asked what we thought so here is my 2 cents for what it's worth. I have heard others talk about traditional worship as being stagnant or dead, but God's word says that where there are two or more gathered in his name he is present. I am pretty sure that in these "stagnant" churches people refer to that there are at least 2 gathered in his name. I feel that where Christ is present that church is alive whether we perceive it to be so or not.

[@bekah728]

As an agnostic who believes in a higher power I think it is all about your personal relationship to that higher power. There is no need for a middle man. Also I love your channel and learning about your way of life.

[@holdontohope7286]

Hi I’ve often heard people say higher power. What does that mean? What is higher power And who made that concept up?thanks!

[@bekah728]

@@holdontohope7286 A higher power is something greater than ones self. It depends on the person. Some would say God. I like to think of the earth and nature. I get the term from Alcoholics anonymous. Although they use regular Christian prayer, they also sometimes refer to the higher power (I think maybe to be more inclusive). You must turn yourself over to that power to heal. I hope that helps.

[@reannfrantz9102]

Do you worship the Creator or the created? Nature is created by God just like you and I are so can it really be a power higher than yourself? Humans can damage the environment or natural disasters can damage humans, but where did both humans and nature come from?

[@janetpell3456]

Thank you Laura, I pray for all of you to be safe and well.

[@brucejohnson1588]

I am Anglican priest and have experienced high anglocatholic ritualistic worship, but also Lutheran Calvinist “Protestant” worship and really see the need fir both, I definitely agree that sometimes both ends can be a real stop to the work of the Holy Spirit, but I’m sure god is big enough to work through them best, as for change, yes it is really needed sometimes, and we as “ church” need to understand this and not always rest on our laurels

[@clivejames5058]

The artists and masons who created stained glass windows, statues, paintings and church architecture all derived their gifts from God so as a High Church Anglican, I appreciate their beauty and the skills of these people. God did bless them.

[@RichJCW]

I've been working my way through all of your KZbin videos since I watched the recent BBC 'Inside the Bruderhof' documentary. I must say that I particularly loved this one. I so appreciated how you talked about the godliness that can be within all traditions of worship. I find it so depressing when I hear some 'Christians' talking as though faith is a competition to be 'right' over against other people's 'wrongness'. I am a Church of England priest and we have a long tradition of High Church socialism - we don't always get it right but at its best, the ritual goes hand in hand with action for social justice.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

I really believe as Christians we should be doing more to understand and love one another and not pick fights

[@RichJCW]

@@LaurafromtheBruderhof Thank you so much for your reply Laura! An example of this would be that I don't think I can ever agree with the Burderhof teaching about homosexuality even though I agree with just about all of your other teaching on sexual relationships - for me it is a justice issue. However, I so believe that you are filled with a passion for justice arising from love of God that I have take time to work very hard at understanding what might be godly about your position.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

I'm planning to make a video about how I think about marriage which I think will explain it

[@thatcatholiccatechist1240]

I'm a Roman Catholic and I love listening to others share about their faith! Your sharing of your faith in Christ is so beautiful and joy-filled. My experience of Catholicism has been a beautiful one, in which I have personal encountered Christ very deeply over the years (especially through the Eucharist and my marriage and motherhood). I couldn't live without Him! Thanks for sharing your heart!

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you!

[@MrBrunoUSA]

I did not know that there were still Bruderhof communities! I wish you well in your spiritual life.

[@JohnnyBoy1982]

I grew up greek orthodox... services half in English and half in koine Greek... as I've gotten older I've fallen in love with the book of common prayer for personal worship... I have a nice kjv RL Allan bible I have use for readings... I love God... posting this on Christmas eve 2021... God bless you all...

[@luciafrau125]

I've been born and raised in the Spanish catholic church, which by your definition I think it's very high on the high spectrum lol But tbh for 2 years that I was living in the US I attended a "low church" and I found it much more real. When you pray you actually talk to God, not just recite a text that you know by heart and sometimes you say it without even thinking about what you're saying...

[@anna-katehowell9852]

I am a VERY high-church Anglican and found this super interesting

[@cynthiaconrad6145]

I have thought about your topic many times. I attended Anglican Churches for most of my life, and I do love the liturgy. There were church services I attended when I know God was present. All these imperfect people came together to create a beautiful experience that drew him to us. I have since left the Anglican Church because it has gone in a direction away from the teachings of the Bible. In searching for a new church, I have learned about anabaptism. Unfortunately, in my area there are no anabaptist churches. I have often thought it would be wonderful if the Anglican liturgy could be combined with anabaptism. I have no idea how it would be done but wish it was possible. I do like the grandness of great hymns being sung in the worship of God, it takes me away from the ordinary world and reminds me of the stunning kingdom of God. Anyways, thank you for bringing these thoughts to my mind.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you Cynthia.

[@benweidner1]

Your inner joy is visible!

[@alleemaria97]

Hi Laura ! I was born a Catholic but have really very much most of my faith. As an adult today, I'm struggling with wanting to find it again. The main reason is that "high church" rituals, as you call me, confound me, and that Rome's slow, rigid stances on things, as well as it's political history (sorry for any other Catholics out there) doesn't fit with what I remember of the Christian values my mother taught me and those that have stayed with my heart. I never seriously considered joining a non Chatholic church... But now I'm stating to be aware of the possibility. Thank you for sharing this, and helping me a bit on my journey ! :) (reading the comments, I realize I'd still be joining a high church haha, a protestant one for instance. Oh well haha, my above point stands ! :)

[@MichaelVandekolk-pe3vc]

I haven't known much on these two differences thankyou may the nature of jesus be formed in all amen

[@tammyd4391]

Beautiful explaination of the difference. I do hope to visit one day and see this place.

[@kassrripples3659]

I was raised in a family that attention a catholic primary and high school in the outer east of Melbourne Victoria Australia. I questioned my beliefs at high school and when I was about 18 but wasn’t given any pathway to find alternatives or explanations. This is unfortunate because looking back I can see those months were the exact moments when I could have been offered a path and it’s taken me 25 years to come back around to start seeking again. I wish I had of had more access to opportunities for mentoring at those moments when I stepped away.

[@cjmccullers]

Hi Laura! About 3 weeks ago, I started taking an introductory theology course at my college called "Faith and Critical Thinking." In the course, we spend a lot of time discussing the variety of religious and non-religious ways people practice Faith. Last week, your videos starting popping up in my recommendations. I'm not sure how youtube decided I might like your videos, but I have found them to be eye-opening as I try to understand my own faith, which is something that has been mostly absent from my life so far. Thank you for sharing your experiences and educating me about this unfamiliar topic. Sincerely, Caroline PS- Congratulations on the birth of your son. I hope you and your family are well

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you Caroline! KZbin does funny things.

[@jaynareynolds3684]

Sister Laura - I was born and raised in the Catholic faith and now as a senior citizen I consider myself a non denominational Christian. I love and respect your faith very much and feel you have selected a righteous path for yourself and for His glory. I know the Catholic Church has lost many of it's assets in New York due to the scandals and lawsuits that rocked the Church several decades ago, and as a result many of the Church facilities found themselves abandoned such as the facility in this video. My question for you is merely asked out of curiosity, and I'm interested in knowing how the Bruderhof came to acquire that facility? Having asked that, I feel that facility is in good hands and I pray it will continue to be used as a tool to help spread His word.

[@justinswanton287]

As a Catholic in the old style I am probably about as high church as you can get, but for me the heart of Catholicism is still "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbour as yourself." And the Bible is very important. Do you know that the Church granted an indulgence for every Catholic who read the Bible at least half an hour each day? (OK we won't go into indulgences but the point is that the Church gives two thumbs up for Bible reading). But with all that in mind I very much love a traditional Catholic liturgy (though at present I can't attend one) because it does leave me freer to draw close to Christ in that authentic way you mention - something different from the emotional experience you get from a beautiful piece of polyphony. Allegri's Miserere gets me every time, but I would never mistake that for the genuine sense of God's presence (Gregorian Chant oddly enough doesn't take me on the same emotional trip). A low churcher gets that right: God can draw near in the most prosaic circumstances. And yes, plenty of Catholics are sticklers for proper liturgical worship but never get the point about why they are Christians. As a BTW could your pray for me? There is something of a personal nature that I need to resolve, and soon. Ta!

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you Justin. That's interesting and ultimately I believe I and we have much in common with faithful Catholics even if there are theological points where we don't see eye to eye. And yes I will pray for you.

[@victorwelkin9136]

I think the Bible depicts both a Low and High church system. All Israelites were to visit the temple in Jerusalem a certain number of times, but most of their worship was not in a temple.

[@MaccaBased]

Laura, I'd be keen to know your thoughts on charismatic/pentecostal churches and modern worship music and lyrics. I like your candour and appreciate your non-confrontational manner. Confidence is better than a defensive stance. Leonard Ravenhill once said, "Someone with an argument is never at the mercy of someone with an argument". Psalm 34:8

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Good question I'll try and answer in a future video

[@laurabrown4331]

Laura, I just started to tune into your channel, I have found it very interesting and to be honest I wanted to see if it was strange or weird. I enjoy the honest and easy exchange that you express and explanation of the Bruderhof. I have found the joy of being saved by Jesus Christ in 1973 in a pentecostal church. It was a wonderful experience of the holy spirit being manifested in my walk with God. Many years later my husband joined a presbyterian church (of America) and I followed him, it was complete opposite of what I had know for more than 30 years. The preaching was fantastic, and the word of God was so rich that it only heightened my walk with Lord and felt like I was experiencing salvation for the first time over again. For many years I had heard that the Presbyterians were the frozen chosen, and I was the holy roller. :-) I knew our theology and our expression of faith were 180 degrees, but still fascinated. I did not want to judge this congregation based on what I heard I wanted to see for myself and found it exciting and extremely curious. I was more free in my expression of faith in my previous church, but they were more conservative and reserved, that was different for me I didn't feel comfortable raising my hands. The preaching changed me and found myself in a deeper and more grounded relationship with the Lord. Although we were very different in our beliefs it was a wonderful experience which has added to my faith. Sorry it is so long. My name is Laura and I am from Ct.

[@hollandgreen7555]

I essentially agree w what you say. I have gone to both. One thing I really miss about the Anabaptist church I went to is that we would get together and sing often which is important for different reasons. It's hard for two children to fight and stay angry with each other if you make them sing together. I have often thought that it would be good for world leaders to sing together before meeting....anyway I found myself at an Orthodox church. I asked if I could sing there. I was told to practice w a secular singing group for a while before I tried at church. And the service is super structured and complex. Each service is different because of the liturgical calendar. It takes years of school to really figure it out. While there is beauty and antiquity and connecting w church fathers from the past, the tradition does become stifling. People forget that traditions were first born out of necessity. Once the necessity is gone the tradition is still good because it helps you to identify with your fellows until it becomes stifling. My church is still waiting for Christmas in January on the Julian calendar.

[@gussbuss9908]

Being involved with both Church of England and The Salvation Army I like to think of them as ‘Liturgical Church’ and ‘Practical Church’.

[@gato2.026]

So ‘high church’ and ‘low church’

[@Ozgipsy]

I’ve always found myself in the high church.

[@sanseveria826]

Thank you for the comparison of high and low Christian worship formats. I was raised in a high Lutheran tradition. The suggestion of using a modern language Bible shook our church to the core. This kind of stubbornness prevented spirituality and growth. As an adult, I have lived and worked in low and super-low worship formats. I had fun, and I grew in the casual para-church organizations I was with for many years. Though user-friendly, I knew that the casual approach lacked content. I searched for a balance between traditional and contemporary, high and low Christian worship. Now I am balancing my faith walk with Jesus. I have been using the Book of Common Prayer for years. I read traditional hymnals out loud, from cover to cover. I have discovered that reading prayers can express authentic faith and relationship with God, just as informal, ad-lib prayers.

[@nederhood9192]

Practically speaking, The Salvation Army is a LOW church, not just in England but even in India; and Anglican Church is HIGH Church. Christ has followers not just among those who profess and act as Christians; but among others.

[@pjmpjm1000]

I do like lower church myself; Independent Baptists aren't too formal, but truth be told - we have a form of liturgy we call 'Order of Worship'. For some of us, Lord forbid we actually make a *small* church to the Order of Worship; someone come up at the end to BLESS you for making any CHANGES! :)

[@larrybaker9924]

Thank you Laura.

[@malachi551]

Interestingly I see the emotional experience is more connected to the low church side. I’m currently a southern baptist but also high church, so I have the struggle of most people in my own community being staunchly low but h. Thank you for being more open to both.

[@sjwells04]

Hey Laura! Question: what do you think of the relationship between Christian missionaries and colonialism/imperialism? What are the differences and similarities between missionary work now and in colonial times?

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

That's a tricky one. I believe most Christian missionaries were selfless and simply motivated by their faith to share about Jesus often at great personal sacrifice. But it's also true that Western civilization often used Christianity as a cudgel and that is wrong.

[@joejames9168]

I spent 44 years of my life as a Baptist (low church) first 9 years as an extreme Anabaptist traditional Independent Fundamentalist Baptist and then the remainder with a more mainstream Southern Baptist Church. In the past year I've started the conversion as well as seminary for a conservative high Anglican church. So as someone with familiarity of high and low church, I feel they are both correct. When I think of our heavenly father, I think of the highest of all high churches. I imagine heaven will be overwhelmingly high church. On the flip side, when I think of Christ; I think of the low church. Jesus preaching to fisherman, sheep herders and the like out in the wilderness by a river or something. No formality or fluff, just the basics.

[@jonathanlim7091]

I basically consider myself a low church Anglican but I like the worship to be traditional with the organ playing in the background and for the preacher to be leaning more towards the Evangelical side in terms of theological inclinations.

[@geoadventure996]

Go d bless you and thanks for sharing.

[@janesmith9024]

Good explanation. I understand the views of both high and low church. I am high church Catholic although even there you have to look hard to find the complex music and ritual which is so perfectly done at The London Oratory - in my view the best church in London. Incense, wonderful complex choral music (which I sing every day) and beautiful decorated buildings can bring some of us closer to God, just as a shaker type simplicity and even just house churches with no fripperies works for others.

[@liamnisbet9720]

South African Low church here👌👌

[@SingerGeneLeonard]

As an Episcopalian, High Church is we’re the service is all sung and with incense. Low church is were the entire service is said and no incense.

[@cjdeane8758]

Gene Leonard where

[@SingerGeneLeonard]

CJ Deane what do you mean where??

[@cjdeane8758]

Gene Leonard you used “we’re” when you should have used “where” and “were” also when you should have used “where”. Just remember “where” when you are referring to places. Apologies, it is the teacher in me, can’t help it!

[@TheVicarsWifesFrugalLife]

High church and low church aren’t binary, my husbands church is high church but we only have incense a few times a year. Where you fall on the candle is a spectrum, not a box.

[@potatotrain7813]

(sorry this is a long comment) The main issue that I found with 'low church' was a lack of a real core in the pastor's teachings. I was raised Catholic so 'high church' was what I was used to but out of curiosity I attended a wider range when I got older. At CofE churches, Hillsong United and a few others I attended the preachers reflection always seemed like a personal train of thought (along the theme of the reading) rather than actual scriptural substance. They were nice to listen to but I didn't feel I'd learned anything or made a deep connection to the word. How would you say that the Bruderhof balances these two aspects?

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

In our worship meetings we read a lot directly from the Bible. Our pastors generally aren't formally trained so we seek together to understand what the scripture reading means. If there's an issue where we're trying to find clarity the Bible is the first place we turn. I share your feeling about bad homilies or personality based preaching lol

[@garyedwards3269]

My family started out Lutheran in Portland Oregon, then proceeded into the Foursquare, Pentecostal, Baptist, Charismatic, Episcopalian, etc...plus revival tents, private prayer meetings, outdoor spiritual retreats, etc...so I've experienced the HIGH & LOW church scenarios rather evenly. Each has it's place depending on spiritual needs of course. Low church is comfortable and relaxed...while high church is stiff and formal. But which church is heaven? I'm thinking both and neither at the same time. Man's ways are not God's ways. High church lets you sit anonymously while low church is group therapy. High church accomodates the congregation. Low church church accomodates the individual. High church lets you connect 1 on 1 more with God. Low church connects you with the Body of Christ more. The Bruderhof is all about the 'Community'...which empowers the individual in many ways...both humanly and spiritually.

[@drummerlovesbookworm9738]

High Church is worship. That is what I go to church to do....formally worship a Holy God. Gathering of 'the saints'' ... community...is a separate thing. I like your description here!

[@jesussaves2642]

Orthodox Church is a perfect mix

[@erikwarde1818]

Interesting thoughts. I actually wasn't aware Catholics had much of a low church until talking to a former priest about it recently. Being a longtime Episcopalian in New England, I have a bias for Low Church too. The Anglicans in colonial Massachusetts were heavily influenced by her congregationalist neighbors. You could imagine my shock when I attended my congregationalist ex-girlfriend's church in college and saw a big stained glass window. They changed quicker than we did! But anyhow, I like simplicity. I don't care for incense, bells, or even too many candles. The communion table I'd prefer be wood. One time, my minister even skipped the vestments on a hot summer day. That would drive a High Churchman nuts, but I liked it. While I understand people why some enjoy the sparkles and shininess about High Church, I just don't feel that same connection. How I grew up in the church was fine with me. I'll probably die Low Church.

[@daynabarlow6347]

I have been thinking about this a lot, and how if I were to come to the Bruderhof I would miss the "high church" liturgy. I went to an Episcopal school starting in kindergarten tho' my family was Baptist, and I have always loved the "high" liturgy as long as it was not a dead empty show and there was still sincerity in the those involved. I can also question if the "low" and informal may be more susceptible to being dominated by local leadership but that happens in the "high" churches as well ( a religious sister once commented, "There's the law of God; there's the law of the Church; and then there's the law of the priest. Unfortunately what you often see is the law of the priest." And there's definitely a great deal of hazard of the institution coming to worship itself in place of God and Christ in the high church. You are very right about not being misled by our feelings and appreciation of beauty and mistaking it for a relationship with God. Thank you!

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you Dayna. Those are good points.

[@robthorburn3626]

I love your quoted comment by the religious sister, Danya. I think healthy/unhealthy clericalism is a big factor in all this. I mean, clericalism in a loose sense, in church leadership right up and down the high/low spectrum - or "candle", as people describe it!

[@jerpif]

The theologian Stanley Hauerwas is famous for referring to himself as a “high church Mennonite.” The older I get, the more I am drawn to liturgical practices, which is why I find myself in the Anglican communion these days... but I greatly miss the Anabaptist intentional community I had in my 20s. We used to host Bruderhof visitors pretty regularly and perhaps I could take you all up on returning the favor someday. As I’m sure you grow tired of hearing, I’ve always admired your way of life.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thanks Jeremy! What was the community you were part of?

[@jerpif]

Laura from the Bruderhof We were called Landing Place in Columbus, OH. We had several house churches in different neighborhoods and were affiliated with the Brethren in Christ denomination. It was wonderful, but sadly didn’t last.

[@barbararosandic]

This is the first time that I hear the term high and low church, having said that English is not my first language. I’m Christian Orthodox, and at least in my experience in my community the emphasis is both on traditional liturgical practice and your personal relationship with God. Here we say: A faith without works is a dead faith. If you don’t strive to live according to Christ and you only do traditional liturgical practices than we say “what is the point of that?”

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you for your comment. I totally agree with the saying you referenced that faith without works is dead. I've definitely heard a lot of people say that here! Best wishes to you

[@jasonpeter2054]

Good way to explain

[@jeansaben9954]

beautiful music

[@brianmurphy7962]

Hello Laura, I am enjoying your videos. Your community life is beautiful, and holy. God bless you, your family, and all your community. I am a Roman Catholic deacon, so, I guess you could say that I participate in "High Church", though I really don't know any Roman Catholics who use that term. We too take Jesus words literally. We read in John's Gospel, "Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." As Catholics, we say that "The Eucharist" is the Source and Summit of our faith. So, as you say, in High Church, we have formalized worship, liturgy, Holy Mass. We take Jesus' words literally. If we do not partake of His Body and Blood, we have no life in us. At the Mass, bread and wine are truly changed into Jesus' Body and Blood. This is real change, not symbol. St. Justin Martyr laid out one of the earliest descriptions of the Mass in his First Apology, written between 153 and 155 A.D. So this tradition of Holy Mass goes back to the very early Christian communities. So, the importance of "High Church" can not be overstated.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you Brian

[@delphinium5555]

Brian Murphy. Yes! Though love Laura's beautiful spirit and commitment..

[@morganread488]

I’m a low church Anglican. I’ve got no problem with the term but it may be because of the split within my own denomination.

[@JordynRGraham]

Did you draw the dragon behind you? Is there anywhere online that shows your artwork?

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Guilty as charged. I could post some photos of stuff I've done in the community tab of the channel.

[@JordynRGraham]

You have an amazing gift! I would love to see more of your artwork.

[@garyedwards3269]

Yeah...I noticed the dragon too. Confess thy artiness Laura.

[@OkieJames]

I like churches that do sorta both... I went to a Methodist Church for some time.. we had tons of neat traditions but our preachers and teachers always got to choose there own topics to give to us... I love your videos so much... Thank you for giving us so much hope!!

[@emmysharples9708]

This sounds so much like my church. We would have a different type of worship depending on the time of the month. Sometimes we would just come together in the hall and talk over a topic in small groups and then we would have Sundays centered around tradition and our covenant.

[@MrNigara]

If I do not believe in the only, authentic and real religion, the catholic, how can I believe on the false ones???????

[@annnorman1907]

Laura I have been watching your posts on KZbin, as a Christian I can identify the “low church” description, having a personal relationship with Jesus. I knew nothing about your Community, we have several Bruderhof communities in Australia.I have relatives in Brisbane, where there is a community, next time I visit I certainly will get in touch.Laura,for you personally, did you marry young? How does your community meet there potential life partners?

[@jenniferpeacock-smith5226]

Just lovely :)

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you! 😊

[@kenmaingot]

I grew up Catholic and was exposed to many well-articulated apologetics to 'arm' me against (Protestant) criticisms of the Church. But no matter how eloquent the argument for highly ritualized liturgy, ornate masses, etc., it always struck me as rationalization. If you have the time, I recommend the recent movie "The Two Popes," in which the contrast between Pope Benedict XVI and (current) Pope Francis really highlights what you're saying about stagnation in the large institution known as the Roman Catholic Church. This issue brings to mind a quote by Epictetus: "Indifferents [i.e. things not related to virtue, like art, music, etc.] are preferred in so far as they bring us closer to virtue, but not more so." By this measure, a lot of what we see in the RC liturgy is extraneous, accumulated and layered over two thousand years of who knows what. Put simply--you could spend your entire life endeavoring to follow Jesus, nothing more, and STILL fall very short. There is a stark contrast in the New Testament between Jesus' teaching and the dogmatic Pharisees which seems particularly poignant in this high / low church conversation.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thanks for the recommendation Ken.

[@littlefarmlover]

You can’t sell everything you own if you’re not allowed to own anything of value. You seem sweet and I feel so sorry for you because of the personal freedoms you have never been allowed to experience.

[@ModernDayHeretic-m9j]

I prefer high church or at the vary least a medium high church because I prefer the more ritualized form of worship such as what Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Methodist and Lutheran do. I am not really big on some of those 'charismatic' churches though.

[@JS-op5gk]

For me it depends: high church can give a fixed frame but a only high church worship is empty of spirit. Goods promises aren't metaphors, since he wanted everyone to understand (might be lost when Translated), while the letters to Korinth etc. still are answers to questions with links to goods words. So I'm probably more low church I guess?

[@frankb1]

Do you think low church is more vulnerable to cults?

[@D.N..]

A person needs to find that which leads them closest to The Lord. It may be high church for one and low church for an other. The most important is to follow where The Holy Spirit leads you

[@pjmpjm1000]

Does the form of worship lead you close to the Lord or only make you feel as if you are close to the Lord? Isn't is just the blood of Jesus Christ that brings us into the very throne room of God?

[@NativeAmericanElder]

wrong

[@mommymum5696]

right on

[@ChacoteOutdoorRecreation]

Rejecting his Church The source and guarantee of his Church authority is Christ’s continuing presence in his Church - “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20). The purpose of this authority is to give the Church the ability to teach without error about the essentials of salvation: “On this rock, I will build My Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it” (Mt 16:18). The Protestant Bible, of which the NIV is one version, is seven books shorter than the Bible used by Roman Catholics. But Protestants didn't just take out books; they used a different standard of what should be in the Bible. The Catholic Old Testament includes Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Baruch (includes the Letters of Jeremiah), I and II Maccabees, and additions to Daniel and Esther. These books were included in the Septuagint, a Greek translation of a different Hebrew canon.Used by Early church fathers, Catholic bibles remained unchanged following the Reformation or lust driven filth of King Henry that spawned the numerous and varied designer faiths of today. He did not come to us to leave a book that would be used as a legal document or contractual obligation to be lawyer ed over and interpreted, it is really not complicated, he left a church and teachings, even one who can not read can obtain forgiveness, but if you reject his church and it's teachings and form your own thing like King Henry, WELL!!!!!!!!!!!! You could end up with serpent handling and a million different twisted ideas formed by man mostly in upstate new york, to avoid the draft or have plural marriage. Worse to profit or avoid poverty chastity and obedience like the wayward monk Luther or the Anglican rejection of Leviticus 20-13. Even baptism could be turned into a twisted legal argument to justify rejection of the true church founded by God who sent one Son that taught one prayer and left one church to make it simple rather than convenient or complicated, the truth is always simple and always remains the truth.

[@ChacoteOutdoorRecreation]

@Megan Greene I have been watching Church Militant on you tube, the problem is as he said it would be the gates of hell have come against it with malformed seminary and heresy.

[@honestorchard]

You could argue High Church denotes a top-down view of Church Governance which leads to the emphasis on Formalism and Liturgy wherein Low Church has a more bottom-up attitude which explains its suspicion of these things. That if a low Church is formal or liturgical its because they choose to be rather than that being a standard imposed, its not up to the local congregation so much. I think many Churches in the West though now are pretty voluntarist, so you could say we're all a good deal 'lower' than we used to be. I think another dimension of high/low church is the relationship of the Church to the Government. In the UK where I live High Church also touches on the idea of the close relationship of the clergy to the state and that the 'Magistracy' could even enforce the teachings of the Church. A belief in the Divine Right of Kings of the Stewart Monarchy before the Glorious Revolution. I think the term for this is Erastianism and this was an underlying factor in the Bishop's Wars in Scotland and the English Civil War. Although to some degree this seems pretty outdated now you do see some Roman Catholics arguing for this sort of thing when you hear them talking about Integralism.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Oh yes integralism. Didn't work out so well for us Anabaptists in the past. We like our freedom of conscience.

[@deosaranharridath9899]

What about recreation and sports. What you do individually and like a team. Games like cricket, football, cards

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Yes we play all those games (except maybe cricket - I think they play that at the community in Australia). I esp. like playing volleyball.

[@c.r701]

I am a true believer that church is wherever you make it it can be in your home it could be in the car it could be anywhere as long as you're really having that true connection and looking for that communication to hear God I think sometimes people look at they go to church on Sunday and that makes them spiritual person that's not always the case it's also what you do on those other days that I think make up more then just sitting in a church on sunday.

[@SF-ru3lp]

Hi Laura lovely to see the huge Redemotorists' buildings in use for the Lord's purposes. I agree with you re overly formal worship... what child related to his/her parent in a formal manner. I think the "official" churches set up a form of baptism that was not "repent and believe" as in scripture so no unwilling by the Holy Spirit. Then we have to perform/ act holy... Not meant as criticism more as how I explain it... (P.S. I was puzzled by the coloured dragon picture behind you Laura... just thought to P.S. it....). God bless all. XGeorgina (Ireland)

[@ishouldhavetried]

Does High church and Low church have anything to do with High and Low German? During the HRE, Low church certainly sounds like Bavarian teachings.

[@Chris-il8kf]

hi Laura, I also sent a question thru Bruderhof Instagram. They forwarded to you. Hope to get an answer next time you answer questions. hanks for all the work you do.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Hi Chris! They sent the message on. I'll try and answer it in my next question video. Thanks for sending it in!

[@Chris-il8kf]

You look like an angel, Laura!!

[@drummerlovesbookworm9738]

After a lot of studying and reflection and experimenting in my life, I feel sure the Sovereign God is a pretty ..... specific.... God and His directions would be "High Church." I can't find any place in the Bible where He instructs His people to "do their own thing." Descriptions of Heaven and Angelic activities, etc. are seriously respectful. I feel sad when people go to worship God any old way. I love that you are pondering these good questions. Xojennyinseattle

[@david.leikam]

Medium-high church. 🙏

[@GreenJack451]

What is the meaning of buildings, rituals, clothes etc.., high, low? In the case of following Jesus does all this bring me nearer to him and the world to his love? If not, have I the strength and courage to left these crutches behind?

[@pascalguillot2737]

the big difference is music and it's a langage music lovers need ? different sensitivies between orthodoxes (closer to high church ?), high or low church....

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

I attended high church for a long time but now services more low church.

[@michaelwhite8031]

I can see your joy and wish l had it.

[@ar-gm5on]

Do you have someone who takes on the role of faith leader?

[@garethdavies4416]

Do you ever feel claustrophobic being in the same place for so much of your life, and not being out in the wider world? Gareth, UK

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Not really no.

[@kitkatchunky93]

Only one church offers to literally feed us with the Body & Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ (as He instructed us to eat of), so that's the one I'm in. To be in a beautiful church, like the one in the video, is a foretaste of heaven. There we're reminded that in heaven we will be part of the communion of saints (here depicted in stained glass or other mediums) & experiencing the truth, goodness & beauty of God in the most powerful way possible. We're also reminded of that in the beautiful liturgies that are rich with scripture & theology that has been unfolded down the millennia. I agree that the formality of some of our forms of worship can be seen as "stagnant & stifling" but once one understands why they are the way they are, there is a deep well of theology & beauty to draw on. Also, we're not restricted to those forms of worship, yes, we participate in the Mass every Sunday, but we also worship in many of the ways that the "low" churches do.

[@junkieg]

Yes there are subterranean churches... aka underground church. :)

[@marcmarc8524]

Yes. In China and in muslim countries.

[@helenrichards7866]

I was brought up Anglican and am very disillusioned about the history and the abuse within. It’s not a place that I could experience God in anymore. You have a wonderful simple faith and family that a lot of people envy....

[@patfros5902]

Hi Laura, This chapel is a very precious memorie for me! I was visiting from the Netherlands in 2016 and was invited to a concert in the chapel which was awesome and so beautiful! I also saw you! My thoughts on the church...I think I value the 'low' church (don't like the word low). I don't like too many regulations I feel it is easy to come between my relationship with Abba..if you understand what I mean (here it is difficult for me to express it in English not being a native speaker) As always thank you so much for sharing, also the smal part of the concert!

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Hi Pat! Thank you! The rest of the concert is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6O0iKhur9-Yg7c

[@pjmpjm1000]

@@LaurafromtheBruderhof - I gotta be honest ... I'd probably be fidgeting through the whole thing!

[@estudodasescriturasdoshebr8669]

Did Jesus or any of the Apostles stablished any sort of temples building and liturgy? 😅

[@danstoian7721]

I personally like old hymns, especially as composed by Protestants like Luther, and then later on by Johann Sebastian Bach. I also enjoy beautiful buildings and stained glass. But I reject ecclesiastical power, as in the Orthodox and Catholic Church, i.e. priest vs pastor distinction. In favor of a pastor, who leads the congregation in teaching and in prayer, but doesn't posses any sort of special authority. So I also favor a congregationalist church polity as opposed to episcopal.

[@robthorburn3626]

Hello, Laura, I think you're a very spirituble person, ha, ha, especially when you laugh! Forgive me, this comment got long... Thank you very much for this video, and your effort and ability to be both/and in your approach and attitude, in our dangerously increasing either/or world, fed and spread so fast by Facebook etc. And it opened up a healthy thread of responses below. I like and respect that your underpinning faith shines through, which frees you not to be threatened by difference but to seek to see inclusively while not compromising on your core beliefs about how we are called by Jesus Christ to live the Good News of the Kingdom already among us, which he was proclaiming. And these beliefs, you of Bruderhof strive to live out together in community in an authentic and effortful witness to our world. I wonder whether you can find more in common theologically and spiritually with, say, Dorothy Day’s Catholic Worker Movement, and maybe also The Redemptorists and like, than with some churches of your “Low” equivalent in their worship?! You may treat that as a rhetorical question if you like. I’ve been struck how both early Christians and Muslims were called Followers of The Way, and I understand that there is a similar sense of The Way in tao, used in Buddhism. The two most recent Comments were interesting. Nobody has used the term “sacrament”, or “sacramental”, I think. I am drawn to celebration of The Eucharist, as an Anglican, partly because I am receiving from God, however ungracious, etc, etc, or wonderful I am feeling at that time. Just do it, Jesus seemed to say. Flowing from it, hopefully, I will give back a little bit more of my life by being trustingly present and aware, which I'm generally not. This prompts me more to ask the question, if you find time, how the Bruderhof might regard a sacramental dimension, to their worship or lived out lives? I mean, in a broad sense, beyond Baptism, Marriage and formalised sacramental acts? How often do you share the Lord’s Supper, and even if it is by your faith a symbolic remembrance, do you see a sacramental dimension to it? Are all shared meals by your community seen as a sacrament, maybe? Honestly, Laura, I hope to visit the Darvell Community in East Sussex soon, so no need for you to reply, I can ask them! I always write at too much length to busy people.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Thank you for your kind words Rob and for your thoughtful questions. I'll have to think about them. I really hope you can visit Darvell. Many great folks there. I lived in England for a year (Luton) and I loved it.

[@robthorburn3626]

@@LaurafromtheBruderhof Thank you for replying, Laura. I remember you mentioning your time in Luton in one of your videos, or maybe read it in a blog. I am due to spend a day at Darvell next week. I just heard that my nephew's Mum-in-law knows them a bit, went to the wedding of an ex-student of hers there. Say a wee prayer for Tom, a student doctor and his associates - he was exposed to the Corona virus last week via another medic in Accident & Emergency, but was deemed low risk. He has a pregnant wife (a nurse trainer) and a one year old girl. Funnily enough, I read today something which fits with what I was seeing as maybe justifiably called sacramental in Bruderhof community living, It was in a fine little book, www.sacristy.co.uk/books/theology/mission-from-below, about a very deprived, isolated, "forgotten" community in borough of Stockton-on-Tees, NE England - a neglected heavy industry "rust belt" bit of the borough. So not the often rustic (in a different sense!) of Bruderhof communities, except this one is quite cut off from communities around, by (toxic) industrial wasteland, for instance. Many such areas in USA of course, where bankruptcy-prone country-club magnate Donald is only really interested in those communities' votes, rather like our new Tory leader and election winner, a scandal-mongering journalist-by-trade with Churchillian delusions of grandeur (ooh, Rob, mixing religion and politics!) Sorry, I do bang on banging on my keyboard.... All the church denominations left this community, The Clarences. But two religious sisters, Loreto Sisters, came to live in the community, self-supporting with jobs, to listen to the local people and then help them to help themselves, fight for their neglected rights from local statutory services, and build their own home-grown inclusive spirituality and worship (worth-ship is the root of worship, the author tells the reader, very interestingly). That's the background for what author Janet Hodgson, ex-campaigner in Apartheid South Africa, writes: "God became flesh to sanctify and transform the material world. The problem with the institutional church is that it separates the religious from the secular in the name of Church growth at the expense of Kingdom growth. As disciples of the incarnate Son, we fully embrace the world so that all life, not just the host at the Lord's Table, may become a sacrament.............A Kingdom community, particularly among the poor, does not only pray for itself but does something about it. It does its own theology, designs its own liturgy (i.e. the work of the people), bears each other's crosses, seeks God for itself instead of through a representative of the Church, regards every little act as a sacrament, and includes all God's creation in the scheme of redemption." Hallelujah! I suspect that you Bruderhofers would see quite a bit of your ways in that? God bless your little and larger family, Rob.

[@robthorburn3626]

note, below: Tom is my nephew I mention before.

[@LaurafromtheBruderhof]

Oh wow I hope Tom is ok.

[@coralynn1135]

Might I humbly submit for your biblical consideration that neither “high church” nor “low church” exist, but only THE Church? That Church is neither a place nor a program, but a people.

[@michaelwhite8031]

I think you are wrong about this.

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

You're confusing church with congregation.

[@shawnlazar5693]

I ask myself, which type of worship is what Jesus and the New Testament commands? In my studies, it seems that the 1st century church was definitely "low church." They met in apartments or small homes. It was crowded. Hot. Dirty. They ate together. A full meal, not a token ritual meal. Apparently anyone was able to contribute to the meeting. They did not wear vestments, or play the organ, or bow at the twelve stations of the cross set up around the apartment. Worship was not like that at all. New Testament scholars all recognize that was not the case in the 1st century. And historians recognize that the liturgical worship developed over many centuries. I know people can be attracted to imitations of Temple worship. But I think the NT challenges us to see that as appealing to "the flesh." In the "Spirit," there are no more Temples. (John 4). We can worship anywhere, and anyone can be inspired by the Spirit to minister. See "Did Every Christian Get to Participate in Worship? (1 Corinthians 14:26)"

[@Sayu277]

lutherans are high church too^^

[@1951kvk]

I know these terms never come up in Catholicism. Within Christianity there is either Catholic or Protestant. Am wondering what the history of these terms is?

[@TheVicarsWifesFrugalLife]

Mary Therese McCool the Protestants protested against the Roman Catholic Church and broke away.

[@ELee-zv5ud]

They originated in England in the Anglican Church (Church of England). As the break from the Roman Catholic Church was motivate by politics (Henry the 8th & the wives) a large part of the service is the same. Doctrine changed, married priests, everything is the local language, no Pope etc. and other Protestant beliefs. There was a wide range among the clergy as to the degree of change. So churches vary in how they look and how they worship. The Book of Common Prayer has a service Morning Prayer, which is more like a Protestant Service, while it also has The Communion Service which is more like a Catholic Service. So churches will vary in how elaborate, formal they are, High is more Catholic in the worship service, including using incense, while Low are ones that use plainer, less formal worship. So people sort themselves out as to which they prefer.

[@sophiamac9100]

Actually, there's Orthodoxy from which came Catholicism and subsequently Protestantism.

[@sophiamac9100]

@The Thing It's not about which comes first. It's about which church retains the true orthodox ( which means correct belief...) doctrine. When did the Lord say the Holy Spirit comes forth from Him as well as the Father? Orthodoxy venerates the Theotokos but knows She wasn't conceived immaculately, only the Lord! And the false belief that the Pope is infallible when Peter himself was proven wrong and corrected by Paul on the issue of the unclean food, just underscores the arrogance of this belief.

[@sophiamac9100]

@The Thing No, no, no and no. Not much more I can say than we'll just have to wait and see till judgement day!

[@yakovmatityahu]

There is no such thing as High or Low church...either you are with Christ or not...

[@katyc.1969]

why is there a picture of a dragon behind you? i was loving all this until I saw that...

[@hartandsoul85]

What is wrong with a cartoon dragon?

[@katyc.1969]

@@hartandsoul85 please read Rev. 20:1-3. a dragon represents Satan. why would anyone want one?

[@hartandsoul85]

@@katyc.1969 cause thought the dragon that was described was a specific one, red with a bunch of heads. Not some random green cartoon dragon.

[@katyc.1969]

@@hartandsoul85 think about it

[@hartandsoul85]

@@katyc.1969 yeah, thought about. Pretty sure they weren't referring to all dragons, especially considering rev 20 was referring to the one described in rev 12. And even so, there are tons of devil iconography in churches (although i disagree with iconography in churches at all.) Furthermore, why nit-pick? I'm pretty sure this young lady is more concerned with living a just life and raising her kids to love God and living a life according to Jesus teaching, vs banning cartoon dragons in her home because some interpretations of the bible of them equal of medieval style cartoon dragons guarding gold...

[@happybeejv]

🏴Absolute power corrupts absolutely; 🏴The power hungry go to where the power is. 🏴The love of power is the root of all evil, 🏴Have no gods before me

[@happybeejv]

they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods,

[@Gino6882]

Partecipato to what you call rituals doesn't exclude a deep personal relationship with Jesus. Priests formed in the place you worship now I am sure had deepest relationships with God. OK reading the Bible but the greatest thing is the Resurrection of our Lord. Without that is no Christian faith, not without Bibles. Secondly imagine all the Bibles on Earth will get destroyed. We will always have the historical fact the Jesus has risen and that will still save us. Peace be with you.

[@vedcon]

For so many it will be the bad surprise of their lifetime on the Day of The Final Judgement: Matt.7,22-23 ...Depart from me, I never knew you... So many deceived and self deceived so called Christians who believe they are in the "right" reigious group when they attend some church regardless of its size or denominational inclination. You have to answer these questions for yourself> Do you have a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus who saved you from your sins, do you carry your CROSS daily in following Jesus, is your life as a candle in the dark World around you? Jesus's Gospel was "REPENT" since The Kingdom draws near. Many believe Jesus's gospel was Love, Love and only Love for everybody. Yes, everybody is welcome but all the sinners who would like to come to Heaven MUST REPENT first!!!

[@johnjon1823]

Sadly you have never actually received communion as Christ, who is God intended. That is not a small matter, and not having done that, or not believing in that, is a loss that you suffer at the hands of those who taught you without any authority to do so. It matters that Jesus took the trouble to appoint apostles and train them for three years, it matters that He appointed one named Simon and changed his name to Peter, it matters that after Jesus rose from the dead He breathed on them and gave them the power to forgive sins, it matters that He told them DO THIS IN REMEBRANCE OF ME. It matters that He said to His apostles: He who hears you hears Me. All the Catholic stuff matters because God Himself started One and Only one Church. A church with apostles, authority to teach and quite importantly guaranteed not to fail, quite evident in its continued existence to this very day. So, whatever "connection" you think you have made with God, or whatever voice you think you hear, if you do not hear Him calling you to be a Catholic then you are not hearing God. So, high church low church is frankly just one more failure of the whole giant rebellion of which you are part. Now I am sure your ignorance is very intense having been so poorly acquainted with the reality of Christ so massively to have missed His many gifts He died to give you. This is due to your blindness because ONLY the Catholic Church, the same one that put the bible together, the same one founded by Jesus Himself, only that special organization has any legitimate authority to teach about Christ at all. All others are mere pretenders with opinions that suits their bias they literally preach another gospel. There is ONLY ONE CHURCH FOUNDED BY JESUS, ONLY ONE. So, repent and convert, stop playing at it.