Same Kinda Different

I've been back in New Hamphire for about a week, after having been gone for a little over a year.  When I left New Hampshire in March of 2010 I was living about 65 miles south east of where I am now.  It's been interesting so far being back in a region I'm familiar with, yet being in a town where I'm still trying to find my way around.

The same holds true for church.  When I left South Carolina I had come out of a Sunday where there were over 10,000 people gathered across 5 campuses all over the state of South Carolina.  This past Sunday I spent the morning with around 140 people in one location in one town in New Hampshire.  One church has been around over 11 years.  The other, just over one year.  It's very interesting to go from one Sunday to the next and experience such different circumstances.   To go from a church where there are more people on staff than people who attend the church I'm with now.  To go from a church who's youth facility seats more people than the location we are meeting in.  To now be with a church where all the tools we use to worship together on a Sunday morning fit inside a Suburban and a 20 ft trailer instead of a ten of thousands of square foot space.  I could go on and on about the differences, but I think you get the point.

Church in New Hampshire is different from church in South Carolina.  But it's also the same.  First of all and most importantly both churches are sharing the message of Jesus Christ.  Whether that be to adults or to children on their level.  Both churches are placing the focus on Jesus and worshiping him through, songs, giving, serving, growing, and following.  Both churches have a vision of reaching the lost in their communities.  Both are doing whatever it takes to share Jesus and make disciples.  Both are baptizing, both are being the body of Christ.  Both are doing their best to serve with excellence.  Both are doing their best to be good stewards of the tools and resources God has given.  Both are not afraid to try something and fail.  Most importantly both are being THE CHURCH.

Both these churches may be different in many ways, but they are so much the same.  I've been reading through the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) the last couple months.  If you've ever taken the time to study them you'll find that each book is different.  Written by different authors, therefore from different perspectives.  Each one has stories that the other ones don't.  Even written in different locations.  But one thing remains the same in each of these books.  The message of Jesus Christ.  That is the part that's never different.  That always remains the same.  Jesus is present and visible the entire time, and His message stays the same.

When we allow Jesus to be present in and through our lives regardless of our location, our circumstances, our relationships, regardless of what life looks like in that moment, that is when we experience the same kind different.