How diverse is your church?

[Yeshua1]

Understand, especially regarding worship style.

If a church is in a diverse area, then this needs to be intentional. It doesn't just happen. I've seen it not work and I've seen it work. People can tell when they are truly welcome.

I remember the story from a friend who attended a church once where no one looked like him. While no one was overtly rude, not a single person greeted him either. Not surprisingly, he never went back. Thankfully, this was over 30 years ago so I would like to hope this wouldn't happen today.

Sometimes it just the style of worship and teaching that one is used to having, as have had Black friends visit an like the church, but the worship and preaching style not 'their cup of tea", as to formal and laid back!

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

Understand, especially regarding worship style.

If a church is in a diverse area, then this needs to be intentional. It doesn't just happen. I've seen it not work and I've seen it work. People can tell when they are truly welcome.

I remember the story from a friend who attended a church once where no one looked like him. While no one was overtly rude, not a single person greeted him either. Not surprisingly, he never went back. Thankfully, this was over 30 years ago so I would like to hope this wouldn't happen today.

Perhaps I didn’t sufficiently acknowledge the point, but I fully agree that people should be welcome in a church regardless. And people should go where they feel they best fit.

I do not, however, live under the illusion that prejudice is gone. I visited a church where no one greeted me. Seems I was the only one wearing a tie. Of course it could still happen today. Human nature still exists, even in churches.

 

[Yeshua1]

Perhaps I didn’t sufficiently acknowledge the point, but I fully agree that people should be welcome in a church regardless. And people should go where they feel they best fit.

I do not, however, live under the illusion that prejudice is gone. I visited a church where no one greeted me. Seems I was the only one wearing a tie. Of course it could still happen today. Human nature still exists, even in churches.

Agreed, but I have found that sometimes the difference is between the cultures themselves, as some prefer much quicker pace in both music and teaching than another!

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

Sometimes it just the style of worship and teaching that one is used to having, as have had Black friends visit an like the church, but the worship and preaching style not 'their cup of tea", as to formal and laid back!

I think this gets closest to the point. Culture exists and one needn’t be forced upon another. I have to question that kind of intentionality.

 

[RighteousnessTemperance&]

Agreed, but I have found that sometimes the difference is between the cultures themselves, as some prefer much quicker pace in both music and teaching than another!

But which is which, the tied or the untied? And it depends on what you mean by quicker pace.

 

[Yeshua1]

I think this gets closest to the point. Culture exists and one needn’t be forced upon another. I have to question that kind of intentionality.

Its not so much being prejudiced as being familiar with each other own native cultures and beliefs!

 

[Yeshua1]

But which is which, the tied or the untied? And it depends on what you mean by quicker pace.

The Black church tends to be much higher tempo than the white church normally, and the preaching of a Black church is more emotional and into it, and much more group participation!

 

[atpollard]

About a diverse as any. We have a good mix of wheat and tares. Lots of sheep, some wolves and a couple wolves in sheep's clothing. We have some stony soil, some weed choked soil and some good soil. Some faithful followers, some lukewarm and some backsliders barely going through the motions.

About the same as most any church I have ever been in.