On Church Planting and Cultural Complexities

Part of the impetus behind church planting in America is the diversity of culture present in the States.

Ed Stetzer notes this complexity. He describes American culture as a waffle with many dimples. Each community has its own nuance. Even neighborhoods within local communities may be further nuanced and so forth.

This complexity has been on display in recent days in our country.

The conversations happening at the national level sound different than those happening at the regional level. The regional conversations sound different from those at the state level. In my own community, I even hear differences between the city and county conversations.

Where church planting intersects this complexity is in its ability to engage more communities. Smaller and newer churches can inhabit these nuances of culture, and they can quickly and finely adjust to the needs of each community.

These adjustments can happen at many levels. The programs or services a church offers. The teaching and application of God’s word. The tone and timbre of communication. All of these elements can be tweaked in granular ways.

Of course, the above comments are not meant to undermine the need for diversity within a church or to speak against bigger, older churches. All of these factors should be in play. The point is church planting can create a kind of organic organizational dynamic that can be finely tuned to address complex issues in subtle, appropriate ways.