Church A - Focuses more on theology and teaching the Bible.
Church B - Focuses more on benevolence and volunteering in the community.
Church A - Prides themselves on hiring pastors from a particular seminary. Prides themselves on what they believe are fantastic sermons and Bible classes. They may talk about Biblical obedience in general, but delving into specific examples or controversial topics they will not do. No women are preaching there, or teaching there, unless it's a woman's only small group. They budget a certain amount of money to the community, but volunteering at the homeless shelter is not on their priority list. They'd much sooner donate money for someone else to do it. Think 'rich' and 'white' and you'll be prepared for a visit. Members are more likely to vote Repub than Dem. No one who looks unkept and disheveled (i.e. homeless) will be found in the pews/stadium seats. Gays showing up are welcome, as long is they stay in the closet. In short, the church is amongst the most conservative protestant churches to be found anywhere, including the 'Bible belt.' You could be asked 'what kind of work do you do?' within the first three questions after meeting someone, and may never be asked 'how are you?', even by the people you already know.
Church B - Brags about being 'a people church, welcoming everyone.' THINKS they're into in-depth theology and teaching, more than they are, not because they brag about it, but because they'd feel insulted if you suggested otherwise, ready to cite examples of a few knowledgeable people in the church who have taught classes there for years but not from a conservative perspective. More likely to practice cafeteria style religion where you look over the scripture and accept what looks good, and just leave the rest. No pastor would be found in the pulpit telling people to give up their sinful lifestyles, out of fear it might drive people away and reduce attendance numbers. Concerned more about works that benefit others than Church A folks. Those who volunteer, of which there are numerous, feel better about themselves as a result - able to 'check the box.' More likely to vote Dem than Repub. Likes to use the words 'social justice' in their creed. Openly gay are welcome as much as anyone else to participate in ways anyone else does, such as deacon, elder, committee members, pastors, convention delegates, being put in positions of decision making that will steer the direction of the church, etc. No shunning allowed. An already "married" "couple" of the same sex can "walk the aisle" and join as voting members without issue. Women are encouraged to teach and preach to their heart's content. A homeless person sitting in the pews wouldn't draw much attention, since the church deals with homeless all the time, although you don't typically see that, since those who are helped by the church aren't interested in attending or otherwise getting involved in the lives and church of the very people who help them on a regular basis with food, clothing, and occasionally shelter to women and children on cold nights. You could attend there for years before anyone asks what kind of work you do, but you are practically 100% guaranteed to be asked 'how are you doing?' with each trip to the church, but by the same people each time who just make a habit of asking everyone they see.
For what it's worth, the two largest 'Bible' churches in my area (they include the word 'Bible' in their titles, i.e. 'XYZ Bible Church') I would classify as type A's.
One person I posed this question to who attends a Church B, responded with "Whichever church cares about ME!" which wasn't really one of the choices. If I followed their lead, I wouldn't have to ask this question in the first place. It would be a no brainer. If that's really what most people look for most, I wish someone would tell me. I just hope God doesn't view such a perspective as self-centered, in the spirit of 'it's all about me' and how people make ME feel when there. I get that human nature is human nature, and if that's what people look for in a church, then 'it is what it is.'
Church B - Focuses more on benevolence and volunteering in the community.
Church A - Prides themselves on hiring pastors from a particular seminary. Prides themselves on what they believe are fantastic sermons and Bible classes. They may talk about Biblical obedience in general, but delving into specific examples or controversial topics they will not do. No women are preaching there, or teaching there, unless it's a woman's only small group. They budget a certain amount of money to the community, but volunteering at the homeless shelter is not on their priority list. They'd much sooner donate money for someone else to do it. Think 'rich' and 'white' and you'll be prepared for a visit. Members are more likely to vote Repub than Dem. No one who looks unkept and disheveled (i.e. homeless) will be found in the pews/stadium seats. Gays showing up are welcome, as long is they stay in the closet. In short, the church is amongst the most conservative protestant churches to be found anywhere, including the 'Bible belt.' You could be asked 'what kind of work do you do?' within the first three questions after meeting someone, and may never be asked 'how are you?', even by the people you already know.
Church B - Brags about being 'a people church, welcoming everyone.' THINKS they're into in-depth theology and teaching, more than they are, not because they brag about it, but because they'd feel insulted if you suggested otherwise, ready to cite examples of a few knowledgeable people in the church who have taught classes there for years but not from a conservative perspective. More likely to practice cafeteria style religion where you look over the scripture and accept what looks good, and just leave the rest. No pastor would be found in the pulpit telling people to give up their sinful lifestyles, out of fear it might drive people away and reduce attendance numbers. Concerned more about works that benefit others than Church A folks. Those who volunteer, of which there are numerous, feel better about themselves as a result - able to 'check the box.' More likely to vote Dem than Repub. Likes to use the words 'social justice' in their creed. Openly gay are welcome as much as anyone else to participate in ways anyone else does, such as deacon, elder, committee members, pastors, convention delegates, being put in positions of decision making that will steer the direction of the church, etc. No shunning allowed. An already "married" "couple" of the same sex can "walk the aisle" and join as voting members without issue. Women are encouraged to teach and preach to their heart's content. A homeless person sitting in the pews wouldn't draw much attention, since the church deals with homeless all the time, although you don't typically see that, since those who are helped by the church aren't interested in attending or otherwise getting involved in the lives and church of the very people who help them on a regular basis with food, clothing, and occasionally shelter to women and children on cold nights. You could attend there for years before anyone asks what kind of work you do, but you are practically 100% guaranteed to be asked 'how are you doing?' with each trip to the church, but by the same people each time who just make a habit of asking everyone they see.
For what it's worth, the two largest 'Bible' churches in my area (they include the word 'Bible' in their titles, i.e. 'XYZ Bible Church') I would classify as type A's.
One person I posed this question to who attends a Church B, responded with "Whichever church cares about ME!" which wasn't really one of the choices. If I followed their lead, I wouldn't have to ask this question in the first place. It would be a no brainer. If that's really what most people look for most, I wish someone would tell me. I just hope God doesn't view such a perspective as self-centered, in the spirit of 'it's all about me' and how people make ME feel when there. I get that human nature is human nature, and if that's what people look for in a church, then 'it is what it is.'
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