We've got winners, we've got losers...
You know how the song goes. It's from a popular country and western song by Toby Keith. Right now, I've been pretty obsessed with it, which is odd coming from a self-pronounced spokesman against "newer" country music.
But the song strikes a chord with me for this reason. In the song, I Love This Bar, the lyrics talk about all the different types of people who frequent Keith's favorite establishment. The striking thing to me is that it takes all those different types of people to make the establishment "click". All the bikers, yuppies, veterans, etc., all coming to this one place give it the singular character and charm which Toby Keith finds so appealing.
Now, the bridge......
Take your mind out of this ficticious bar and apply it to life, let's say, in your local church. I'm sure there are many different types of people who frequent the pews, or are members. By this I mean, people of different backgrounds, personalities and so on. This diversity is great because it adds to the character, or "feel" of a particular local church.
We should not be striving for homogeneity in our members, but encourage people to be who they are in Christ. If that means we have truckers and yuppies (to borrow from the song) worshipping together, then so be it; and it is that much better for life of the church anyway.
Why is it better for the life of the church?
People from various backgrounds and social identities all bring different perspectives to the table of life, and this is how we learn, and grow from one another. This is also how we see the way the image of God in each human being, plays out in life. We see how God has gifted people differently, and how he has equipped people differently, all so one body of people come together for a singular purpose.
Book of the day, Created In God's Image by Anthony Hoekema
But the song strikes a chord with me for this reason. In the song, I Love This Bar, the lyrics talk about all the different types of people who frequent Keith's favorite establishment. The striking thing to me is that it takes all those different types of people to make the establishment "click". All the bikers, yuppies, veterans, etc., all coming to this one place give it the singular character and charm which Toby Keith finds so appealing.
Now, the bridge......
Take your mind out of this ficticious bar and apply it to life, let's say, in your local church. I'm sure there are many different types of people who frequent the pews, or are members. By this I mean, people of different backgrounds, personalities and so on. This diversity is great because it adds to the character, or "feel" of a particular local church.
We should not be striving for homogeneity in our members, but encourage people to be who they are in Christ. If that means we have truckers and yuppies (to borrow from the song) worshipping together, then so be it; and it is that much better for life of the church anyway.
Why is it better for the life of the church?
People from various backgrounds and social identities all bring different perspectives to the table of life, and this is how we learn, and grow from one another. This is also how we see the way the image of God in each human being, plays out in life. We see how God has gifted people differently, and how he has equipped people differently, all so one body of people come together for a singular purpose.
Book of the day, Created In God's Image by Anthony Hoekema
posted by Bobby's blog at 2:30 PM
6 Comments:
That's a very good statement about our churches...they should be reflections of various pieces of society. Sometimes people are scared of people and things that are different, which leads to the lack of diversity in membership.
I've put your blog in my history...I'll try to hit it at least once a day.
Very good point, Bobby.
That was one of the things that bothered me about PCC. They tried to make everyone the same, using the same cookie cutter. They didn't allow for differences in personality or even intelligence.
You were told how to look, how to act, and how to believe. Homogenous members. I was never so glad to get out of a church in all my life and get into one that encourages members to be themselves. Like in the church you described.
Our church should not only be pictures of the physical mosaic of our society but also the ideological hodge-podge that comes with it.
A church can (and should) embrace and teach its doctrine, but by not having patience and allowing people to explore what being a Christian means, we force them (once again) into the homogenity that we find acceptable.
How is it that a church can teach a message of exclusion but then pretend to want diversity?
Not sure what you mean by teaching exclusion? Do you mean in terms of isolationism? Separation? First or secondary?
Can't a church teach boundaries, but allow members to move freely within those boundaries, thus expressing their own individuality?
The church can teach whatever it wants, but when the message, boiled down to its essence, is: agree with the church or burn in hell...well, it's difficult to also try for a little diversity, no?
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