Well I did. [I Go to Church]

This reminds me of a story from the mists of time--ca. 1977 or 78 or so. I was in the US Navy, married, and either no kids, or just one. We were attending a fairly good size (a few hundred) independent Baptist church. Lively, good music (no choir, but...), and good folks. Lots of Navy and Marine Corps families. Several buses which picked up kids all over the mostly hispanic/Navy/Marine residences.

We had "visitation" on either Tuesday or Thursday evenings--going out with the then ubiquitous "visitors' cards" which ... well, visitors ... had filled out.

A nice young couple visited one Sunday, and as was typical, were warmly greeted. But there was one glaringly unusual thing: The wife was [[i]GASP!!][/i] [b][i][u][c=BF0000]bRALESS!!![/c][/u][/i][/b]

No big deal to me, but this [i]was[/i] an independent Fundamentalist Baptist church, even if it was the late 70s and southern California, where bras were as common as the dodo bird. (They had no idea that I had visited Black's Beach back in 1975 twice.)

Well, visitation night comes around, and Don and I get their card, visit their apartment, have a pleasant visit, and return. But Don points out the obvious again, followed by, "they are trouble." [i]"Really?"[/i] thinks I.

They visited perhaps two or three times more, then we never saw them again. Each time she was braless, but it was merely apparent--not flaunting it.

I was disheartened, and a bit angry. What?! Are bras required to pray? If so, which ones? Playtex Cross Your Heart? They're pretty heavy duty. Maidenform? What about Bali? Or Victoria's Secret? Gettin' a little risque, don't you think? What about underwires? If they're metal, do they act as antennae, boosting the prayer signal??? Asking for a friend (tm).

I believe I would have left as well

I agree. Each has it's place.

Finding the place where the word is spoken without bias, the doors and welcome signs for new members is evident seems to be a fleeting thing.
There are so many empty churches, some because the original members were the mainstay and are now gone, some because the children of the attending members moved away, but most because the leadership wanted to polish the image of those that attend regularly, not out asking the poor, homeless and disabled to come.

Our church has several campuses because our primary church building could not accommodate everyone in one building even having 4 services on Sundays. The church started online services about 3 years ago. So when COVID hit, pretty much everyone just switched to online services. It also makes it very convenient for snowbirds like us.

I haven't been to a church in years now, I used to go all the time.🙃

Your experience is why I have not attended/been a member of a church in 50 years. They are either cliques or money making machines for the "leaders".