2 Reasons Your Church May Not Be as Friendly as You Think

Guests expect a friendly church, but it’s not always what they experience. As church leaders, we might believe that we are the friendliest church in town. In fact, according to a study done by Thom Rainer, virtually all churches overestimated their friendliness. In over 500 church consultations and thousands of church member interviews, I heard it. Most church members really do think their church is very friendly. But, more times than not, they are wrong. Guests who visit the churches usually have a much different perspective.1 In this article, I’ll share two common reasons our churches may not be as friendly as we think, as well as practical ways to become more friendly. 1. The insularity trap Our first problem is insularity. According to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary, insularity can mean being “uninterested in ideas, cultures, etc., other than one’s own; narrow-minded.” Think of images like wearing blinders or living on an island. For example, Peter struggled with insular thinking regarding who was able to be part of God’s family. Insular thinking led him to believe that the gentiles, as non-Jews, were unclean and therefore unwelcome in the family of God. His vision in Ac...