"What's in a Name?"

Are you looking for a new church to call home? Well, then this blog is for you. Ever notice as you drive through a town or city, all the different names of churches? Well, as many do, you can “let your fingers do the walking” in the yellow pages under churches, and you’ll see a plethora of houses of worship with a variety of names, a literal, “Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors” to choose from.
When I was born into my family we were Nazarene, (a very musical denomination), at the age of twelve the family moved our membership to the Friends Church, (a truly friendly bunch), and then at age 14 my parents started attending New Hope Church of God, an Anderson, Indiana Church, (probably best know for the Gaithers and Sandy Patti, whom I know personally, but that’s a different story!). Now many of those Anderson, IN Churches called themselves, “First Church of God”!
Seemed like the thing to do if there was a “Second” Church, but most times there wasn’t. Many churches call themselves “First”, like: First Baptist; First Presbyterian; First Church of the Nazarene, etc…and then there are “Free” churches, like: Free Methodist and Evangelical Free Church, ( of which I have been serving as pastor these past 5 years at Living Water Evangelical Free Church, South Hutchinson), but ya have to ask yourself, “What’s in a Name?” I mean, take those 1st churches, what are they 1st in? Where they the 1st church in town? 1st in sales and service? I’m sure there is a historical precedent for it, there usually is. But, when the average non-church goers looks at a church name, what does it say to them about who attends there, what kind of people are they? What do they believe? I mean, if you’re going by a name. Do church boards and elders really think about what a church name says to the “potential church attendee” out there? Take our church for instance. To a world of people who are trying to be: “Fat Free”; “Cholesterol Free”; “Sugar Free” and “MSG Free”? What do you think they think when they see “Evangelical Free”? Maybe less of, or not Evangelical at all? My point exactly. That is perhaps why so many churches today have dropped the Denominational name and have instead, chosen a name that says more about who and what they are, like: The Anderson, IN Church of God in Wichita goes by “Central Community Church”; the newest Evangelical Free Church plant in Newton is called, “River Point Church”; and probably you never thought of Pastor Rick Warren’s church,” Saddleback Community Church” in Southern CA as a “Southern Baptist Church” did you? You see, it’s not in the name itself. Shakespeare said it best, “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet!” It’s not in the name, but really, what you find when you experience the church, (the people), and the life of the church itself, (what’s going on in that body of believers). So, don’t just look at a name, experience the church by getting to know the people who worship there, get into the worship, the fellowship and life of the church before you say, What’s with that Name? Here’s hoping you will! This is David(Chip)Rails, hoping that you will find a church that is, “Just Right for You!” Then, get involved in its life, it will change yours!