Recently we had someone call the church to find out what “kind” of church we are. This person was looking for a church that fits their style, which is fine. The problem we run into is when we start stereotyping churches that aren’t our style or “kind” of church. This person’s style choice is traditional, which is fine, hymn only , which is fine, wear a suit and tie, which is fine. This is fine because that is where they “fit”. They are vanilla ice cream and NHC is coconut macadamia nut ice cream.
While carrying out the phone interview this person found out that we are a Purpose Driven church. Immediately the interviewer’s spouse said, “Oh, they play that loud music.” Stereotype – Purpose Driven churches only play loud, contemporary music. Truth of the matter is not all Purpose Driven churches play “loud music”. Even Saddleback offers a variety of music styles in their different services. We do however play “loud” music, that’s who we are.
What would a member from the early church do if they came back to our churches now? Probably find some things they don’t care for, things that don’t fit into our stereotypes. As a matter of fact if the phone interviewer could travel back in time they wouldn’t have liked the first church because it wouldn’t be a “fit” for them.
1st Church member about our churches today:
- I don’t like your big buildings to meet in, I like meeting in homes
- Your church doesn’t give sacrificially to help other believers in need
- Your church won’t sell their homes and property to help those in need
- Your church isn’t dedicated to prayer
- Your church has confused fellowship with pot luck dinners
- Your church isn’t experiencing any miracles like our church does
When we decide that our “style” choice is the way church is supposed to be we then step into the stereotyping zone. Not a good place to be.
2 comments:
Thankfully, not all churches today are like your stereotype of them either :-)
I have to confess that I'm also guilty of stereotyping. And stereotyping is nothing but sinful pride.
In the Kingdom God can and does use all types of churches to get His mission done. That has to be one of the unseen beauties of the Epistles. We can't see the cultural differences in those churches very easily, but you know they had to be there. And somehow Paul was able to be "all things to all men" in establishing so many of them and continuing to influence them.
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