Great blog:
Hospitality is intensely theological, is it not?
Is Your Church a Friendly Church? « Reformed Baptist Fellowship
Hospitality is intensely theological, is it not?
Is Your Church a Friendly Church? « Reformed Baptist Fellowship
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My church doesn't speak to me, shake my hand, or even give me a nod. It's a very cold church, but that's most due to the fact that it's made out of brick.
However, the folks inside of it make up for the church's rudeness. They're great, friendly, giving, etc.
ESV John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
I am happy to say, by God's grace, that my church is friendly and hospitable
I believe a church can be friendly and not be biblical but i also believe that it is an oxymoron to say that a church can be biblical and unfriendly.
I would add here that the false friendliness that I've experienced in a few churches I've visited over the years is almost worse than being ignored.
Amen to that, dear sister! And you can spot it a mile away.
My church doesn't speak to me, shake my hand, or even give me a nod. It's a very cold church, but that's most due to the fact that it's made out of brick.
However, the folks inside of it make up for the church's rudeness. They're great, friendly, giving, etc.
I would also add that I don't think I've ever encountered sicky friendliness in a reformed church. The reformed tend to be either genuinely friendly or to use a worn out phrase, "the frozen chosen".
Unfortunately, that is true.
Too many people are to find other thawed "chosens." Too bad that all of (us) "warm-fuzzies" can't be gathered in one friendly Reformed congregation. That would make life a lot simpler for the true "frozen chosens!"
Margaret
http://www.sweetim.com/s.asp?im=gen&ref=12
Is there a general trend as to why reformed churches might suffer this problem disproportionately? Do they suffer this afflication more than others? Is there truth to the mock, "The Frozen Chosen."
Could below be the reason:
I.e. small groups with high doctrinal fences in reformed circles encourages an "us" versus "them" mentality so that when a guest enters people think, "Oh, it might be one of them..one of THOSE people..." (i.e. a non-calvinistic Christian who goes to an evangelical protestant church). I.e. they are taught that tolerance and an openness are not good things but bad things or they are taught a "proper soberness in worship" such that is restrains natural gregarity and friendliness?
Is there a general trend as to why reformed churches might suffer this problem disproportionately? Do they suffer this afflication more than others? Is there truth to the mock, "The Frozen Chosen."
From my experience over the years, there is sadly an element of that. I grew up in a very narrow "reformed" church and there was definitely a tendency (whether it was intentional or not) to have an air of theological superiority over other Christian and even reformed believers who didn't share the exact theological formula that this church held to (eg, on the subject of women wearing hats). I thought it might have been something unique to that church but I've seen it elsewhere over the years.
That said, I'm sure reformed churches don't have a monopoly on the problem. Based on some of my family who attend Brethren or fundamentalist, independent-type churches, it would appear it is quite prevalent in other strands of Protestantism as well.
I think Calvinist/reformed theology is hard to grasp for many - particularly if you have had a lifetime in a non-reformed church - and sometimes we all need to show a little more grace, tolerance and patience.
Like Pergamum, I have had plenty of "Calvinist Cross Exams" over the years and I'm sure I've failed more than half of them!