Do you think people who lived a very worldly lifestyle join legalistic churches to compensate for their past?
And tell others they are not saved unless they speak in tongues, do not wear pants or jewelry, keep the Sabbath and a very long list, wear no wedding ring or jewelry, not baptized in the correct formula, do not believed in Oneness Godhead, if you have on earrings, if you trimmed your hair, you ate shrimp, you sleeve length is not long enough, open toed shoes, wearing red (harlot), watching TV, no playing sports, Culottes are still considered pants in danger of hell fire, I can detect makeup on your face, wearing clear nail polish and the list goes on……
no they are drawn in through loved ones.
I believe a minority over compensate that way. The far greater tendency would be to gravitate towards those churches whicha are legalistic in doctrine because you led a life in which there were all sorts of rules and policies that covered everything that you did. It would be something which you would be familiar with, and perhaps comfortable with.
Having all of those rules generally indicates people who have missed the doctrinal point which Christ laid out for all believers. We have been freed through the blood of Christ, we no longer strive to meet the demands of the Law. The Law demands perfection, we can’t meet that standard on our own. What we eat is no longer of any concern for all things are clean. What we wear impacts the perceptions of others, as does what comes out of our mouths. Most rules are used to separate people rather than bring them together in Christ.
I think it is morre common for people who lived very liberal lifestyles to become very conservative after accepting Christ. It is because they come to understand exactly what it was they were doing before, and it is no longer acceptable to them since they wish to please God.