The "A-Word"

Posted by Scott Williams
15 Comments
October 8, 2007
Life Application | Love | Ministry

Last week Craig posted a blog on Swerve entitled “Where is God Working” in which he asked people to share some churches where God is doing something special…..  There were a ton of churches shared from around the country and I have been checking out many of the websites.  I ran across a comment that I thought was complimentary and intriguing; the NW Oklahoma City Campus of LifeChurch.tv was mentioned in a comment by Jimmy Paravane.  His comment also made me think about the about the “A-Word” Assume/Assumptions.  Below is the exact comment:

“3 churches in OKC come to mind. 1. The NW OKC Campus of LifeChurch.tv at http://www.lifechurch.tv/?p=745. Scott Williams is black! What’s he doing as Campus Pastor of a white-flight mega-multi-site church! Some of my assumptions about LifeChurch.tv could just possibly be wrong. This MAY call for some further research.”

I had read a post over a month ago entitled “Stereotype” from my friend in the blogsphere Anne Jackson; in which she outlined the stereotypical contemporary church pastor.  For the most part it’s accurate, I just happen to be the exception instead of the rule.  The post on Swerve today entitled “Kingdom Minded” really sheds light on assuming, divisiveness and speaking well of others.  If we don’t make any assumptions or only assume the best about people, pastors, ministries, styles…. it changes our perspective.   I am not saying that some of the assumptions and stereotypes are not accurate, I’m simply saying be careful and remember when we ASSUME, it can make a _ _ _ out of you and me.  

BTW- What am I doing as Campus Pastor of a white-flight mega-multi-site church? 

We are all guilty of assuming and stereotyping pastors and churches.  What are some stereotypes or assumptions that you have about: Contemporary Churches, LifeChurch.tv, Joel Osteen, “The Black Church,” Baptist Churches…..?  

  • http://dturn.wordpress.com david

    Assumption…black churches have a lock on music (nope)
    Contemporary churches aren’t deep (wrong)

  • http://www.floatingaxhead.com Scott

    Having been at a “traditional church” most of my life, I think one common assumption is that if a church is growing rapidly, it must be doing something wrong.

    Not too long ago we ran across a post entitled “Trendy Pastors” in which the author dogged various megachurch Pastors on the way they dressed.

    Sure, its obviously lame, but there were dozens of comments supporting the author’s position. Scary.

  • Scott Williams

    David- I have definitely been on both sides of those assumptions.
    Scott- LOL If the church is growing a person could actually just assume the opposite. It would be cool if we just assume the best. :-)

  • http://www.manymeadows.blogspot.com Robin

    I read the same comment and wanted to reply—”Scott Williams is BLACK?!!! I hadn’t even noticed!” LOL

    Scott–I welcome learning more and more about the diversity that your campus offers. Some of us just need teaching!

  • http://flowerdust.net Anne Jackson

    Robin took my answer! I was gonna say, “you’re black?!!!!” :-)

  • Anna

    Joel Osteen must spend a butt load of money on dentistry…

  • http://www.crossroadsmovement.com J.W.

    I agree that some assumptions are accurate, but I HATE when people make assumptions and end up making an “assumption” of themselves. Growing up in predominately black churches, I know people that assume if you don’t break a sweat when preaching then you’re not saying anything. I’ve found even in my own life that making assumptions can actually make you miss God or a God opportunity. If I kept some of the same assumptions that I grew up with then I would have missed some divine events and divine connections…like being impacted by the ministries of Francis Chan, Erwin McManus, and of course Craig Groeschel and Scott Williams.

  • Scott Williams

    Robin- I am looking forward to walkning through the process and embracing the diversity that we are experiencing. As always thanks for your comment!
    Anne- LOL BTW we ate at a mexican restaurant called Primos down from the west village and Buca Di Bepo.
    Anna- You must like his smile :-)
    JW- Ditto That’s my story! My nature has been to go against the grain as an opportunity to “find out.” If you want to walk on water….

  • http://www.lifechurch.tv/?p=748 Andrew HNV

    Scott, you’re black? What the heck. Can we still be friends? lol. Hey man, I’m bringing a dozen or so people from HNV to NOC the first weekend in November. Kind of a Campus Development thing.

  • Roger

    Scott, I told you I saw that quote somewhere. I am glad you found it

  • http://hamfighters.blogspot.com Patrick Sievert

    The other day I was talking to a guy at work and he was complaining because he had to go to the “Multicultural Career Fair” (whatever that is) at some university for recruiting purposes. He wasn’t really very excited about it.

    I, in all seriousness, said, “I would love to go the the Multicultural Career Fair! I love minorities!” Everybody laughed, and nobody believed me at first. Apparently skin-headed white boys who work in the oilfield in Oklahoma aren’t supposed to like minorities. Oops.

    Then, last night, I went to visit my friend Fabrice at his house (he lives with three students from Nepal).

    Well, I showed up at his house at 9:00 and he was nowhere to be found (he still operates on African time). I went to the door anyway, and one of his roommates came to answer it, and apparently was a little freaked out by this giant (I’m 6’4″ 225) white boy with a shaved head knocking on his door at 9:00 at night. So I had to try to explain to him that I know Fabrice and I’ve actually been to his house before (and I’d actually met him, I just had hair back then)!

  • Scott Williams

    Andrew- I look forward to your crew visiting. I am black, actually kind of a medium brown color. ;-)
    Roger- I ran across it shortly after you told me about it.
    Patrick- Thanks for your comments! 6’4″ 225 might have thrown them off! Is there and assumptions that not many minorities work in the oilfields in Oklahoma. I had lunch with a great guy not long ago who recruits for the oilfield industry, I learned a lot. :-)

  • http://jimmyparavane.wordpress.com/ Jimmy Paravane

    I seriously thought about testing the assumption level by saying Scott Williams is Gay!, but I doubt seriously if anyone would have assumed that I was implying you were showing or characterized by cheerfulness and lighthearted excitement; merry. I thought I’d go for the obvious instead. I actually find it more intriguing that the assumption that you are campus pastor of a “white-flight mega-multi-site church” went unchallenged.
    Besides, all you aliens look alike to me…(grin)

  • http://www.bigisthenewsmall.com Scott Williams

    Jimmy- That assumption might have gotten moderated!:-)

  • http://jimmyparavane.wordpress.com/ jimmy paravane

    Since I often make an assumption of myself, assumption is one of my favorite words. Moderation is another. I use to moderate something called SIPIncest. Make all the assumptions you want about that one and I guarantee you’ll be wrong. It was the Singleness In Purpose Incest Survivor’s Echo(imagine a cross between a usenet group and a message board)on something that might be thought of as the very first online social network; Fidonet. Last thought on assumptions? They should be made in moderation. (grin)

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