Denominations and Personalities

Last night I got to meet with a sweet group of elderly Christians for dinner. It's an interdenominational group of senior saints that meet that travel together, support different ministries and just meet monthly to enjoy fellowship in Christ. Each year they invite me to join them and tell about Operation Blue Jeans. Then they take up a collection to support this work.

Unfortunately, I was called away from this meeting before I could speak. Our daughter, Shannon, called me on my cell phone -- screaming hysterically. Within a few moments she calmed down enough to tell me that she had a minor wreck. She's okay, but after talking a few of the folks around the dinner table I thought it wise to dismiss myself and head home quickly to console Shannon. She's fine. The car's not. But cars can be fixed.

Thinking about last night, I pondered how different personalities are attracted to and feel more at home in different denominations. This group was mainly Baptist, somewhat "country" Baptist. Though I felt so loved and welcomed by this sweet group of Christian folks, I don't think I'd feel at home being a member there. Nor would I at other denominations. Even though I sometimes get mad at my Church of Christ family -- especially if I detect legalism and a sectarian spirit -- I guess that in many ways I fit in this fellowship. Especially at grace-filled, Spirit-led churches like Highland, as imperfect as it is (it's made up of imperfect believers like me!).

Maybe I'm a bit kooky, but in my experiences as a follower of Jesus these past thirty years, I've observed that certain personalities fit in particular Christian fellowships. I have a good friend who is very expressive and she loves her church home which is more charismatic. Another friend has been in the Church of Christ all her life, but recently she has felt led by the Lord to join a church that emphasizes prophecy and other gifts of the Spirit.

Then again I know some wonderful believers who are much more at home at a conservative Presbyterian church. They may not raise their hands while in worship, but they love the Lord so much. When I've visited certain liturgical, high church churches, I tend to cringe. But if I go to community churches where there is great worship with a band (not too loud) and solid expository preaching, I love the experience. Going to Richland Hills to hear Rick Atchley is always such a treat to me. His preaching feeds my mind and soul (no, that church doesn't have a band, but a great acapella worship team).

And I know of one family whose children were all raised in a conservative church of Christ and yet two of the adult children and some of the grandchildren are now members of either conservative Baptist churches or community churches. They are going where their souls are fed and where they not fit in their walk with the Lord.

I pray that our children and their children will be a part of a Christian fellowship where they will grow in the Lord and be used mightily in His kingdom. Maybe it will be in the church tradition they were raised in. Perhaps not. That's okay.

I just think that it's vital that all followers of Jesus Christ honor the diversity in the body of Christ, not try to squeeze others into our particular denominational mold, and let God use each of us with our particular personality and preferences to serve Him in a church where we thrive in the Spirit.

Jim