Church Friends & Culture
Last night was my second time at the younger service at Rey de Reyes. The service is supposed to begin at 9:00, but never does. There is an earlier service that finishes when it is finished. I´ve never been to a church where people line up outside and wait in line every week. No one is complaining either. People just wait in line and talk with friends until we´re able to enter.
I still love singing in Spanish, but it is amusing when over 50% of the songs are translations of English songs. It just doesn´t seem right singing Hillsongs in Spanish, but we do it a lot. My favorites are those that are original Spanish songs.
Argentines are very friendly with foreigners. Everyone offers their cell phone number and email right away and tries to make me feel welcome. They are not shy about asking if I have a girlfriend or have much experience dating. People at my school are nice as well, but there is a clear distinction between them and those at church. Those at school have self-image and depression problems. They are friendly, but lacking the depth necessary to sustain this appearance. Their manner of dress also cries out for attention. I have not known people at church long enough to say so definitively, but there appears to be a genuine joy in their lives. Many do not have a lot, but you would never know it by talking with them. The style of dress they use is fashionable, but more self-respecting.
The service is very similar and dissimilar at the same time. Like the U.S., there is a lot of music and emotion involved in the service. Also, the message may be more general, with the specifics left to small groups. (For right now this is okay given my limited language ability). There is also the annoyingly ubiquitous “smile and say so and so to your neighbor.” I don´t blame them for this though. They´re only copying North Americans. I am pleasantly surprised they lack the hype or marketing we use in our youth services in the U.S. They don´t need Playstations, pro wrestlers, or giveaways to bring people to the services. Argentines here come to church for God and fellow believers. The participation level (for lack of a better phrase) is also very high. Once can look around and see 90% of the people praising God. There are very few spectators. Respect for the Holy Spirit is evident immediately. Though they are only 18-35, they don´t make fun of the movement of the Holy Spirit or look at it skeptically. There is a desire for it and God responds correspondingly. Finally, time is relevant with the services. It´s nothing to have a service lasting 2-3.5 hours. Last night we finished around 11:45 and went up to the cafe area until about 2:15.
