This, not “not that”
As we are in the midst of launching Soul City Church we are often asked, “So what is your church all about?” – Good Question. Bad Answer - “Well, we’re not like this, that, or the other…”.
One of the easiest ways to establish your identity as a Church, Organization, Company, Brand, whatever is to compare and contrast yourself to others like you or those that came before you.
This is not a new response. Our country was founded on no less of a sentiment (“we’re not going to be a part of a white wig wearing, religiously oppressive Empire…ok, maybe we’ll keep the wigs, but that’s it!) 230 years later, not much has changed. Many churches, in fact, some of the most influential churches we know came to be quite simply as a response or reaction to the church that they came out of.
In a culture overun with countless churches, denominations, and church models it’s difficult to establish yourself as unique and distinctive. The easiest way – Tell ‘em what you’re not.
We get it. We just feel there’s another way. A better way – Tell ‘em what you are. Tell ‘em what you are about. Tell ‘em what you are for. Tell ‘em who you are. We follow a far too creative God (God never had to tell the angels that Earth is so not Mars and humans are totally not badgers). We come from far to great a heritage. We have far too many great ideas and great churches to have to start with what we are not.
We have far too much work to do to worry about what we’re not ever gonna do, or what we won’t ever be about. We have far too much work to do to dismiss our brothers and sisters who do it differently than we do. Jesus got this. In Mark 9:39-40 he said, “No one can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut me down. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally. Why, anyone by just giving you a cup of water in my name is on our side.” I think that pretty much sums it up for us.
So if you want to know who we are, check out SoulCityChurch.com. We’d love to know what you think.
And if you still want to know what we’re not…well…we’re not badgers.
