Apples, Oranges, and Churches

As a missionary I spoke to thousands of people about my church. Some conversations were brief, while others included a series of lessons in which we would talk in-depth about the doctrines of the Gospel. Among all these people with whom I spoke, there was one question that far and away was asked most frequently than any other: “What’s the difference between your church and my church?” (Actually, that is not entirely accurate. “What in the blazes are you doing in Siberia?” was probably a contender for that title).

In my case, most who asked this question were referring to the Russian Orthodox Church. I’m sure this same question is asked in all parts of the world. There is some part of our human nature that just loves to make comparisons. We all see life through our own lens, and when something new is introduced, we immediately compare it to whatever seems to have the most similarity.

My common response was probably the same approach that many missionaries use throughout the world. I would begin by answering the opposite of what they asked. Rather than talking about what is different, attempts were made to build common ground by beginning with things that are the same. After building that common ground, the things which were “different and new” were introduced.

While there is nothing wrong with this time-tested approach, in the years since my mission, I have though more about how to better answer this question. I have come to believe that the question itself is less than ideal. Some things simply can’t be compared in a meaningful way. As the saying goes, it’s like comparing apples to oranges.

Lumping all churches into a single category limits our ability to effectively evaluate their purpose. One wouldn’t compare a shoe store and a grocery store simply because they are both stores. A milk lover might say “I don’t see why anybody goes and spends their money at that shoe store, they don’t even have milk! Why does the shoe store even exist?” They are both stores, but that doesn’t mean their purpose and their product are the same. Why then do we categorize churches like this?

For some churches, tradition and culture are the primary driving forces. This is often the case in places of the world where Orthodox Christian or Catholic faiths are predominant. Other churches focus on the concept of community, social interaction, and congregation. This is often true for many Protestant groups, where the congregation itself is bigger than the denomination.

One could say that in a tradition-based church, identity with the church is about the equivalent to one’s national or ethnic identity. In a congregation-based church, identity might be more similar to being a member of a club. I am not implying that there is anything wrong with tradition-based or congregation-based religious groups. Both types can be very effective in serving the needs of their membership. However, I don’t believe they provide accurate variables for comparison when trying to understand the purpose and scope of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

While the Mormons definitely have their own traditions and have developed their own culture, and while a social system and congregation approach certainly exist, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is based on another concept which, in my opinion, is unique among churches. The Church is mission-driven, much like a corporation or a non-profit organization which uses a mission statement to define their purpose. “To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39) is often stated as the mission-statement of the Church, and all policies, procedures, and programs are designed to serve this purpose.

Because of the mission-driven nature of the Church, Mormons find that their religion penetrates every aspect of their lives. It therefore, becomes a “way of life-based church.” Becoming a Mormon is no small commitment. It is a full-time, life-long promise that one makes to give freely of their time and their means to serving this over-arching mission.

Perhaps asking the question I was oft asked as a missionary may provide for some interesting theological considerations. However, as far as comparing churches go, I believe this can lead to inadequate conclusions. Comparing them is truly like comparing apples to oranges.