What is so different about churches today from the way they were one hundred years ago? Fifty years ago? Or even 20 years ago? Depending on who you speak with you will get varying answers that range from serious or comical. Bridge Church began running a couple of billboards in our area that advertises Church… but Different.  Before I had Lamar Advertising slap those up, I had to think about what does that mean, different? For some people different means being counter culture to what is popular. For others, different means having a shock factor to get people’s attention.

I believe for the church, especially Bridge Church, different means that we are not trying to counter traditional church culture or be entertaining. Being different for us is rooted in biblical teaching found in 1 Peter 2:9 NLT, "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show
others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into
his wonderful light." The King James says "peculiar" which interpreted means different, to stand out. That is what we mean about Bridge Church being different.  We are a church that is about doing, not sitting. We are about seeking the lost more than the found. We believe that health happens when you multiply. We believe that going deep is about serving.

Too many pastors and church planters want to be different because they believe the church that has been traditional has done a bad job. I have news for you, the church of the past was the church that won our grandparents and parents to be followers of Christ. Some of theses pastors have such a disgust for the church of the past that it is honeltly scary. At the Exponential conference, a video was played of a young pastor  who is very popular and many planters consider him cool and hip. Some of the stuff this guy has to say is great, but he is an angry man who uses cultural language for the shock factor.

I want to be different because churches where we are (Lake County, OH) for the most part are not being different when it comes to sharing God’s radical, transforming love with our community. I want to be different because Jesus was different and his troupe of followers were different and were not afraid to be different. I want to be different, because difference makers change the world.