Readers, Talkers and Singers
It occurs to me that one can group church people into 3 rough categories, based on their preference for expressing faith.
The readers.
Aka “Bible students.”
- Spend at least half their quiet time quiet — I mean, reading the Bible.
- Favourite verse: Matthew 4:4
But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
- Drawn to churches with engaging sermons, “good word,” and “rev.”
- Psychological profile: inclined to be intellectual.
- Most likely to pray quietly, least likely to have spiritual experiences or fall during laying on of hands.
The talkers.
Aka “prayer warriors.”
- Spend at least half their quiet time praying.
- Favourite verse: Matthew 11:12
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
- Drawn to churches where prayers are loud and frequent and there’s regular fasting.
- Psychological profile: likelier to be assertive.
- Most likely to have frequent dreams and visions, fast often and sing warfare songs.
The singers.
Aka “worshippers.” (Or “praisers.”)
- Spend at least half their quiet time in “praise and worship”
- Favourite verse: Ephesians 5:19.
Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart…
- Drawn to churches with a solid choir or music team, lots of dancing.
- Psychological profile: tend to be emotional.
- Most likely to cry while singing or, in smaller gatherings, to have a “special number.” Also most likely to have spiritual experiences.
This is mostly just for fun, of course.
Yes, I think it’s a helpful way to think about differences in religious preference, but no I don’t think it’s anywhere near predictive in reality. Of course many people will be combinations and some won’t even fit neatly. Which is why I call it a rough grouping.
All that to say: don’t make too much of it.
Of course each group tends to fall into the too-human trap of assuming their way is THE way.
And I won’t mention churches by name, but you can almost group them this way too, no?
Anyhow, what group do you fall in?
Me, I’m a reader. 🙂
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