The Introverted/Extroverted Church

Today was great. I received a $2500 scholarship for school next year. Thanks God.

There are many different kind of classifications that we can put people in. One that I have found myself more drawn to lately is the whole idea of an introvert and an extrovert. Everyone will know both kinds. An introvert is one that is usually shy, kept to themselves, sometimes socially awkward, usually more wise (cause they don’t talk but listen and usually not a leader up in front of people. An extrovert is pretty much the opposite. I appreciate both kinds of people, and I find myself connected to both groups at times. Usually in groups of people I know I’ll be quite an extrovert. If you put me in a conversation or a one on one situation or with a group of people that already know each other I’ll back down pretty quick into an introverted state. There is nothing wrong with either state, they are simply just two different ways that God made people. Obviously, like everything else in life though, a balance needs to be sought.

When I put these adjectives in regards to the church, I was interested at what I saw. The balance usually isn’t there. Maybe we could call discipleship the fact of being introverted and evangelism that being extroverted. Now the words are starting to spark familiarity within us. We could even take it further though. A strictly introverted church would do more than stick to discipling. They would probably be running lots of programs for all age-groups. Lots of church picnics and fellowship nights and sports night would be going on. Essentially an introverted church would be so focused on itself that it would forget it’s mandate and the circular pattern would go on and on until the church died. There are many churches that have fallen into this trap. Look at some catholic churches, or old United churches. There aren’t many young faces in those congregations.

The strictly extroverted chance on the other hand will have a whole other list of problems. It’s a problem that we can see in many evangelical churches today. You’ve heard the saying that the churches are a mile wide and only an inch deep. That’s because the whole “raise your hand and say a thirty second prayer” era in the evangelical church has been able to rack up attendance and tallies and yet they have no disciples. They spend most of their focus bringing new people in the doors, and rushing them to the altar that no attention is paid to bring them into a loving and growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Balance is a key factor in any church. My youth ministry teacher will tell you that there is no such thing as evangelism and discipleship but that it’s all discipleship. We are always trying to bring people to come closer to Christ; whether before or after their encounter with the cross. I think that a view like this is excellent to help us focus on both extremes. May we become churches that are introverted and extroverted.