If you were just like somebody else, you would be unnecessary.
One pastor wrote another and asked how he could reach people in his city like the First Baptist Church. He responded, “Be different than the First Baptist Church.” He told him that there was already a church like he was trying to make his. Now he would have to do a better job against a church that got there before he did and had more people and resources.
Instead of trying to beat them at their own game, play a different game.
It’s interesting that God made each one of us unique and different and we spend our lives trying to fit in with everyone else.
Churches see what works for another church and then begin to copy it. Sometimes the same approaches work, sometimes they don’t. There’s nothing wrong with trying a method, but to insist on being a mirror image of another ministry isn’t necessary. In fact, it’s robbing a community of what God has given you to offer.
Another problem is that those being copied start to take a form of leadership. Others begin to follow them and before you know it a peer pressure develops. Eventually, you’ll end up criticized if you aren’t like them.
It takes hard work and courage to decide to break away from the norm and be what God made you to be.
But then again, that’s what separated Jesus from the religious crowd too.
Joel Stiff's Adventure 