How Do You Go About Picking A Church In Charlotte, NC?
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by: matthewhemsley
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Word Count: 596
Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2011 Time: 7:41 PM
Why do people choose one church over another? Have you ever stopped for a second and asked yourself the question, what is it that people in Charlotte are surely looking for in their church experience? I wonder if you were truthful with yourself, you would accept that above all it is about ease? We know from research some of the major factors that make the most change in choosing where your church home will be. And sadly it's things like the capacity of the parking lot, how quickly you can get in and out of the building, and how near the site is to the Interstate. Now that's absolutely all about comfort isn't it? Or am I missing something here?
Now on top of ease throw in a bit of individual preference and you'll complete the picture. What specific music style do you like? What classification of feel do you favor? Are you into warehouses or stain glassed windows? How do you want your Pastor? Do you like a little edge, and do you want to be made to feel protected? Do you want someone who looks like he or she will be your confidant, or someone who will fire you up, and make you seem like the world is about to end if you don't do something now? Or probably someone who will assure you everything is going to be ok, whatever happens? Do you like your worship leader to have spiky hair or something a little bit more orthodox? Your music loud, medium or soft. Make your choice.
It can be very frustrating to watch people shop for around the city of Charlotte for their spiritual home and wonder if it comes down to nothing more profound than the style that is in these days and a good parking lot.
Now there is nothing wrong with liking your church. In fact if you don't there is a predicament. The odd thing is how quickly people decide they do like you, and I mean surely like you.and then a few months thereafter, that somehow no longer applies, and then have wandered off.
There has been much talk about learning to reach people in their diverse communities, learning to become attractional to those specific communities, understanding their needs. So much so that in the end we may have built spiritual shopping malls, where people feel liberated to choose whatever flavor they feel they are deficient on any specific day.
Obligation is totally inessential, because like any other business, the service provider is hysterically seeking the customer, trying to induce them to choose you, and with so many different providers 'battling' in the 'market' all the cards are in the hands of the congregation. They are the desired asset, and they may pick and choose who they will give themselves to.
The sad thing is this is a completely upside down picture of the body of Christ. The congregation is supposed to be the body of Christ, not the staff or the leader. So the fashion we do things, it is a bit like the various parts of your body winding off every now and then to affix themselves to a new torso, wondering why they don't quite belong, and then repeating the entire method all over again. It ends up with an almighty muddle, and malfunctional bodies. My old pastor used to say, find somewhere you like, plant yourself there, and then stick it out whatever happens. That's the only way to develop.
About the Author
To learn more about how you can find a great church in Charlotte, it's important to hear from others who have successfully found church homes. Check out the following link and you'll be taken to City Church Charlotte for helpful information from a local Christian leader, Matthew Hemsley.
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