Like I've written about previously here and here churches like to be known for one specific thing.
It's something which looks good on their websites and on the notice board out the front of the building.
Maybe they want to be the welcoming church (Tim Schmoyer makes a similar point to the one I'm making here).
Or the accepting church.
Or the praying church.
Or even a church with a main focus on the environment or caring for the poor.
The problem is that often churches under-deliver.
It's not that they aren't welcoming, or inclusive, or whatever-we-want-to-be-known-for, but they aren't above and beyond what is expected in normal churches.
For every church should be welcoming.
Every church should be inclusive.
Every community of faith should pray.
Every church should have a heart for social justice.
If a church desires to be publicly known for something then they must go beyond the church down the road or one town over.
Sadly, I fear that we are trapped into thinking that doing the "normal" things somehow makes us extraordinary.
2 comments:
"If a church desires to be publicly known for something then they must go beyond the church down the road or one town over."
No they don't. If they want to be known as a 'welcoming church', for instance, than they simply need to be welcoming. They do not need to be more welcoming than others.
I think if you're going to "go public" then it must be something which your church goes "the extra mile on" and not the status quo.
Perhaps the original wording seemed to indicate that it was a competition, but surely, if you are going to be the (insert whatever it is) church, then you should look different to the churches which don't claim that title!
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