The Church of Conformity

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12: 1-2

Ah, the postmodern, emerging Christian church. Crusaders of Non-Conformity and Creativity. And yet, the most conforming, least creative animals that wander this mighty globe of ours. Case in point...I've attended services at 2 separate churches on separate coasts but they are part of the same overall movement. Not much of a difference. People dressed the same. The music was the same. The language was the same. The messages were the same. This mighty church movement has spawned countless churches all over the globe but apparently they are little clones of themselves.
And this movement is certainly not the only place it's happening. Take Willow Creek. Many years ago, Willow Creek was at the cutting edge of doing church. So naturally, most new churches popping up copied Willow Creek. But after a while, the Willow Creek way became stale and old fashioned. Willow Creek is savvy enough to change with the times but these copycat churches are just plugging along using the same old models, same old songs, same old dramas, same old everything. Try as they might, the church of today cannot be called creative or non-conforming. What they can be called are copycats.
We (meaning leadership) need to be more concerned with training the new church to be independently creative. They can go to conferences and buy material to help them do church but do any of these resources train them to be creative on their own? I don't think so. If we were properly training these folks we wouldn't be seeing the same things over and over again. What I long to see is a truly creative move of God among the church. People who love God but can think for themselves and not conform to the church culture that is provided for them.
So, do not conform any longer to the pattern of a particular church but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to be creative.