The church

Two of Elmer Towns descriptions of what a church is really about sticks in my mind: that a “church community is a bonding of people” and that it “allows for diversity” (100). I believe that churches everywhere are failing in regards to these two examples of what a church should be/do. There are very few churches that could label themselves “multi-cultural”, and only a small percentage of those actually have a multi-cultural feel, and by that i mean that the different races mix and mingle and are not separated. Have you ever walked into a church and seen for yourself the different cliques inside that building? If it is an ethnically diverse church, the different races are sitting with their race. There is no mixing and mingling, and that truly does make me sad. I am not sure, though, how this could be fixed by the church as an institution. This is one of those things that a person themselves would have to do. It is part of the bonding of the community. I have been to many different churches. The one i’ve gone to recently is mostly African American, but i love it. It truly is an ethnically diverse community. They make you feel welcome and loved. It’s daunting if you’re going for the first (or second) time because it’s one of those churches where everyone knows everyone else, but they make sure you feel welcome. The community is the key to a good church.

Personally, i think more services need to be held outside. Elmer Towns writes, “The Barna Poll suggests most people today want to know God, but wish to do so outside the established church” (97). When people think of church, they think of a building and stuffy old people sitting in old, worn out pews. It’s time to break the misconception that you have to wear dresses and slacks and sit in a pew in order to be in church! I’m all for being barefoot in the grass holding a conversation with a minister who not only preaches, but lives and teaches what he knows. Why does no one ever argue with the preacher? If they are discontent with his preaching, they find a new church without ever talking to the preacher. And why are we always afraid to approach the pastor (the bigger the church, the truer this is)? Smaller churches definitely have their advantages where this point is concerned. My home church is a full 20 members (on a good day) big. My pastor is the most incredible man i’ve ever met, and if i disagree with him about something, i know he’ll listen and we’ll discuss it.

This is what a church should be about! Diversity and openness! The word of God never changed, but the “Church” has, from what was once a gathering of a group of people to discuss the works of Jesus to a large congregation listening to a single person spoon feed them how they should be living. Church has become synonymous with Sunday morning worship service and a Wednesday night Bible Study, neither of which are truly open for discussion, and besides, who would want to argue with a pastor? He knows what he’s talking about.