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.
Jackie R.
Hey Jarrett & Jeanne –
Love this post. I posted a short little post similar in January — http://travelingmercies.blogspot.com/2009/01/grea... — good stuff!
The site & your vision looks exciting. I know you will have an amazing chuch/community. Hopefully someday we can visit! — Jackie Reitsma
Jul 31, 2009 @ 8:08 pm
Nick Richtsmeier
Incredibly well said, and incredibly courageous. Using contrast and negation to establish an identity is easier, but (trust someone who knows from experience) it cannot sustain. Prayer and love -
Aug 01, 2009 @ 3:15 am
Jarrett Stevens
Thanks Jackie.
Love your post. Great stuff.
Thanks for the encouragement.
It means a lot coming from you and Mark.
Aug 02, 2009 @ 1:04 pm
Jarrett Stevens
Nick,
Thanks for your words and wisdom.
We think of you often as we're up to our eyeballs in this whole thing.
If we only knew then what we knew now, we would have prayed a ton more and given you guys millions of dollars.
much love.
Aug 02, 2009 @ 1:06 pm
Jim
We make lists of stuff not to do…we embed it. We preach it, teach it, put it on signs. The stuff we can do, we keep for ourselves and our secret handshakes. And when a newbie comes along they have to learn all of the bad stuff they can't do first…?
Aug 03, 2009 @ 3:46 pm