Reflection On Out Of Comfort Zone Experience
Comfort Zones are a state of being at ease and in control of a certain type of environment that feels familiar. The zone of comfort provides calm behaviors such as feeling less stress and less anxiety. I stepped out of my comfort zone, and choose to experience a how a different denomination church service functions, and the strict traditions. Having a strict religious background there is only one way of worship that is considered correct. In other religious groups and or denominations, other ways or means of worship are taught to be wrong and ungodly. Growing up in a Southern Baptist religious home, we were taught that Southern Baptist is an act of being obedient to Christianity; and that it is a testimony of the believer's faith in Jesus Christ. My parents are very strong in their values and morals as Southern Baptist, and they believe that if you follow the instructions that have been bestowed upon you, then you’ll make it to heaven.
According to the Bible, we were taught to study, live by, and worship the word of the Lord every day and every moment of our daily lives. As a Southern Baptist, we learned about the traditions that American Baptists and the traditions of Southern Baptist partake. The difference we have is that American Baptist is the partaking in ordinances, such as the believers’ baptism and The Lord’s Supper. These members are distinguished by baptizing professing believers only, and doing so by complete immersion. Many Baptists do not believe that baptism is a requirement for salvation, but rather a public expression of one's inner repentance and faith. Baptists have led the way in the struggle for freedom of religion and separation of church and state in the U. S. and other countries. Historically, many Baptists were imprisoned and died for their faith of this belief.
Baptists were influential in the formation of the first civil government based on the separation of church and state in what is now Rhode Island. Baptist styles of worship have changed considerably since 1609. The early Baptist services were quite long, sometimes with several sermons, and in the early days there was no music or singing. Many people assume that Baptists got their name from John the Baptist, which is not the case. Like most religious groups, Baptists were named by their opponents. The name comes from the Baptist practice of immersion.
For my Out of Comfort Zone experience, I went home to Louisiana on Sunday, and I visited a United Pentecostal Church. Also, I would like to add that I attend a predominately black church, and I chose to visit a predominately Caucasian Pentecostal congregation. I attended this Sunday service without receiving an invitation, nor did I know anyone in the service. This was a difficult process because the service proceeding were quite different from the worship services that I am use too. I immediately felted uncomfortable, judged, and preconceived as if I didn’t know the Word of God; I immediately knew that I was out of my comfort zone. It was far too late for me to turn back and go home because I made a grand entrance, and as I sat down in the middle pew, I knew that I could not adapt to their culture.
Chapter three discusses conflicts in understanding that can occur when communicating cross culturally and the present ways to address and rectify misunderstandings communication. When I visited the church, I experienced an extreme cross-cultural communication during this service. For instance the when we enter into my church, we’re greeted at the door by an usher. This sets a welcoming environment for the members or visitors to feel comfortable. When I entered the church, I wasn’t greeted or welcomed. Walking in I didn’t feel that sense of togetherness, and I also felt that I was being judged based on the complexion of my skin, colorism.
The first visual depiction that I noticed included the woman of the congregation only wore long dresses to the ankles. I didn’t see anyone with any makeup, or crazy eyelashes either. Their sense if clothing wasn’t anything above the top, they simply wore clothing that was basic, and allowed them to be free to move in. I personally should’ve done some research to make sure that my outfit choice wasn’t being disrespectful to them as well; I should’ve taken the liberty to do that as well. Lastly, I noticed that the women didn’t have piercings or tattoos.
When I walked in majority of the congregation stopped and looked at me strange as I walked in. Without any prior knowledge of their attire I chose to wear business slacks, with a turtle neck shirt, stockings, business flats. I also wore a little makeup (nothing super crazy or distracting). I also forgot to cover my small tattoo on my wrist, and I wore my standard stud earrings. The stares I received can only be explained, by saying that their eyes were like piercings in my heart.
Over the experience of the church service wasn’t extremely bad, but I did notice that the minister kept pointing out what I was wearing, and how women in the congregation should be wearing certain things. I simply swept his remarks under the rug, and I didn’t let it bother me. It was a bad experience I felt very discriminated against. The service itself was very long and exhausting. As I was listening to the service, I noticed some similarities in our beliefs, and I also noticed some differences. They teach their members that they are saved, and we are taught that they are not. During the service I noticed that some of the members spoke in tongues. Now it’s not that I don’t know how to, but I don’t do this at every single church service that I attend. This particular Pentecostal congregation, condemn me extremely hard. Anybody who does not speak in angelic tongues. Pentecostals think that we are still in the apostolic age. Those beliefs are far from what I learn Christianity to be. Even though I had a bad experience I’m glad I stepped out of my comfort zone to have the chance to experience other religions.
One highlight is that some of the women who were members of the church tried to make me understand their way of worship and the structure, but I could not. Pentecostalism is energetic and dynamic. They believe that faith must be powerfully experiential, and not something found merely though ritual or thinking. People were running down the aisles, screaming in song, jumping up and down, dancing in circles. They also were speaking in tongue and saying words that I understood, but not in the context in which they used them. Speaking in tongues is a part of glossolalia practicing. They believe in these types of practices because in the New Testament it was called a miraculous charism or a spiritual gift. Pentecostalism is a form of Christianity that emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit and the direct experience of the presence of God by the believer. Most of the congregation looked at me strange as I walked in because of my attire, piercings, tattoos, and makeup. My attire was slacks and a casual short sleeved shirt. Apostolic Pentecostals are the strictest of all the Pentecostal groups. They do not believe in getting piercings and tattoos on the body. They believe that the body is the temple. It belongs to God and it is wrongful to mark your body.
At the end of the service, I wanted to run to my car, but I chose to stay and ask them a few questions regarding their religion. I wanted to know if there was a true difference with us as Christian people. I asked the pastor, and I even pointed out to him that if our ultimate end goal is making it into heaven; will I not make it because I do things a little differently. I also got a chance to ask some women in the congregation how they felt about having restrictions on what they can and can’t wear; while the men don’t have the same standards.
Overall, I learned that just because we have different views on how we should worship God, doesn’t necessary mean that someone is doing it the right way, and someone is doing it the wrong way. I feel that we should accept each other’s views and be unique in that.
