Since I’ve moved to Montevallo, I’ve
spent a considerable amount of time trying to find a local church to attend.
The interesting thing about churches is that, most often, a person can tell
simply by the building, the décor, and the lighting whether or not a church
will be the right fit. For example, whenever I walk into a church with wooden
pews, ornate stained glass windows, and low-hanging chandeliers, I’m typically
correct in my assumption that I’ve entered into the realm of conservative
Christianity. On the other hand, when I find myself standing in the lobby of a
church with massive television screens projecting advertisements for the bookstore,
the child care center, and the multi-story gymnasium, I’ve stumbled upon a
contemporary mega-church, equipped with its own coffee shop and café. After
trying out several churches that fall between these two extreme ends of the
spectrum, I’ve found a church that feels (more or less) like home to me. Like
virtually any church, however, there are aspects of this church that can be
observed, analyzed, and possibly even criticized to provide some detail about
the goals, the values, and the audience (for lack of a better term) of the
church.
For example, this church is not a
typical church building; it doesn’t have stained glass windows or a steeple. This
church is a metal warehouse with roll-up doors, exposed steel beams, concrete
floors, little to no decorations, and metal folding chairs. This physical
architectural design provides some insight into the ideals and values of the
church; not only does it suggest that the church is oriented towards a younger,
more casual demographic but it also reflects the church’s desire to be good
stewards of their resources (since these buildings are far cheaper to build and
maintain), to keep the focus away from the physical building of the church, and
to emphasize the important aspect of a universal Church that encompasses every
aspect of a believer’s life and that is not confined to the walls of a
particular physical space. The lack of decorations and embellishments within
the church also suggests a sort-of minimalistic idea of Christianity; it
implies that worship is not about the appearance and the aesthetics of a place
but rather about stripping away all distractions in order to focus on God.
The building is also dimly lit
during the services; the warehouse’s black walls and ceiling, coupled with the
dim mood lighting onstage, provide the building with a certain overwhelming
mood. The stage lights often shift between several colors depending on the tome
of the message or the tempo of the song. The dim lighting and shifting between
colors to change the mood—reds for an upbeat, energetic song; blues for slow,
contemplative music—is an attempt to create an intimate worship experience for
the audience. The intent is to remove the focus from each individual and instead
to pace it on the act of worship itself; the dim lights allow the audience to
forget about their surroundings and immerse themselves in the service. However,
sometimes it comes across like slight emotional manipulation since it tries to
force the audience to feel a specific way. Likewise, the lighting on only the
stage can create the feeling that the members of the church are attending a
concert rather than participating in a worship service.
The worship service consists of a
large band playing loud, upbeat music. At its basic level, this is intended to
draw in a younger crowd. The church emphasizes enthusiastic, participatory,
active worship rather than a dull, passive consumption of information given in
a sermon. This active participation in the service itself reflects the church’s
desire to have active believers. The church’s motto/slogan/statement of purpose
is “A diverse community of believers developing passionate followers of Christ
to impact the world.” This suggests both an emotional investment as well as an
active involvement in the church, a belief that is reflected in the church’s
service itself; attendees are invited to actively participate in the worship
service.
During the sermon, the pastor speaks
informally and conversationally. He doesn’t use a pulpit or a podium, and he
moves freely about the stage, gesturing and reenacting stories and anecdotes.
He dresses informally, usually in jeans and a button down, and he regularly
references his laid back manner (both of speaking and of dressing). His
emphasis on being casual is both an invitation to the members of the church to
be comfortable with themselves as well as a way for him to connect more
personally with the audience. It also is a way to shift the focus and attention
from a single individual (in this case, the pastor) unto the overall focus of worshiping
His manner of speaking and his informal clothes make him seem approachable and
personable, and he constantly reminds the church that he is just an ordinary
guy who struggles with the same things and makes the same mistakes as they do.
He regularly uses the first person plural “we,” “us,” “our,” which suggests to
the church that there is no hierarchy of believers. This casual atmosphere not
only is an attempt for the church to appeal to a younger generation but it also
is a way to live out through a service the idea that people should come to
church, to religion, to God “just as they are.”
By closely examining and analyzing
the signs and symbols of a church, one is able to learn a considerable amount
about their beliefs, their values, and their intentions. As for my church, the entire
atmosphere is intended to take away focus from the individual and emphasize the
active worship experience. From the warehouse to the clothes the pastor
chooses, each element of the church has been chosen intentionally to project onto
both members and visitors of the church certain moods, ideas, and values. Sometimes
these choices are successful, but sometimes they feel rather contrived and forced.
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