What’s the Name of Your Church? Christian Meeting Place
This morning as I was driving down Cedar Hills Blvd. in Beaverton, Oregon, I saw a new sign in front of a relatively new looking, “churchy” building. The sign says, “Christian Meeting Place.” Welcome to Oregon! When I was a child in the 1970’s, Oregonians’ low view of organization moved them to start taking the word “church” out of their church names replacing it with “fellowship,” or “community.” Not a big deal. Or is it? If it’s not a big deal, why don’t we use the good and biblical word “church”? After all we read “Christ loved the Church and laid down his life for her.”
Now I must confess that I have yet to confirm that “Christian Meeting Place” is a church, but I can’t imagine that it would be a cult. After all, cults are trying to legitimize themselves as the true church and so they take the name “church” as often as they can. On the other hand, these neighbors of mine, whom I must really meet and welcome, have chosen a name as blandly general, and non-organizational as they can possibly choose it: “Christian Meeting Place.”
I’m sure the over-preached point that the “Church is not a building but a group of people” is important to this group, as it is to me. But the sign and its name does not designate the building but the group that meets in that building.
Who are we in Christ? Are we the “Christian Meeting Place,” or are we “The Church”? So now it is a matter of signage and what role a sign plays in the ministry of the church, not to mention the very nice building this groups has erected. It is a pleasing building to be sure.
I am also going to guess that the other over-used point that “denominations are divisive and archaic” is very important to this group and so it has stripped its signage of any connection to a denomination - Lutheran, Baptist, Four Square, or Assembly of God. I also value this point, but wonder if “Christian” is any less problematic than Nazarene, Presbyterian, or Methodist.
Frankly, the name strikes me in the same way as those tall, large neon signs along highways glaring “EAT” alerting me to a diner off the approaching exit. Are not “Cowboy Bob’s BBQ,” “The Lemon Grass,” or “Waffles,” more interesting and informing names than “EAT”?
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I checked tax records and “Christian Meeting Place” has filed as a “Church” and lists its affiliation status as “Independent.”
nathan.
They’ve been registered since 1997 on the state’s business registry. Their web address is http://www.christianmeetingplace.org/
thanks for the link. I guess that I need to get out more. This is a good reminder that we in the Church need to know how the Church is expanding within and without our smaller circles of affiliation and influence.
nathan.
The Christian Meeting Place is a Chinese/English ministry using at least two languages in her worship meetings. The multi-ethnic model is a fine one and I applaud it. I would also applaud a more interesting name that allows some of the unique color and culture of this congregation to be tasted by others in the community.
nathan.