In many rural churches, the warmth of the gospel’s message runs cold when it is met with the unfamiliar. This tribalistic mindset directly contradicts the core teachings of Christianity and alienates those seeking the love and acceptance promised by the faith. 

A key component of Christian thought is the concept of hospitality, which is often referred to in both the Old and New Testaments as a virtue that is both commanded and commended by God. However, this virtue seems to be limited in rural churches, stopping at the edge of the congregation’s social comfort zone.

What good is Christian hospitality if it only extends to people who look, think and live exactly like us? This contradiction is not just a failing; it poses a threat to the sanctity of the institution itself. 

In the past several years, Christianity as the dominant religion has continued to face a rapid decline as people across the United States, especially in the South, continue to feel alienated from the religion.

The alienation by rural churches is often targeted at those who do not share common perspectives, backgrounds or features with those already invested in the church. This could be on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, political beliefs or economic status; the list goes on and on. 

Rural churches often display that they function as one close, tight-knit community. However, this often devolves into an exclusive group — one in which outsiders tend to feel unwelcome. 

This extreme sense of unity often disguises itself under the excuse of “protecting tradition” or “preserving the community.” It can lead a church to no longer serve one of its core purposes: to be a refuge for all. The institution then seems to take on the role of a “social club,” one that requires some sort of spiritual “membership card” to be welcomed in. 

This new role for rural churches often leads to missed opportunities for ministry. Rural communities nationwide struggle with declining populations, economic struggles and growing diversity.

In the face of these changes, many rural churches fail to seize the opportunity to extend their reach to those struggling within their own communities in favor of protecting their inward-looking identity. By closing themselves off from their communities, these institutions not only fail in their mission to spread the gospel but also risk survival in an ever-changing world.

Religious exclusion doesn’t just harm outsiders. It also poses threats to those stuck within the unhealthy culture that plagues the rural church. 

When overly focused on the prioritization of tradition and the maintenance of cultural norms within the church, members of the congregation can become spiritually stagnant as they lose focus on the key objective of communal worship: to engage with and further understand the teachings of the gospel, which is often supplemented and enriched by the diverse perspectives a community fosters.

An additional troubling consequence might be that younger members of the congregation, due to exposure to and association with diverse cultures and perspectives in an increasingly interconnected world, may become alienated from their church or religion. This disconnect could lead to the eventual withdrawal of the individual from the church or religion altogether.

While the prospects of this may seem grim, it is never too late to begin to work to mend these toxic practices. Many urban churches, like the Common Thread Church in Raleigh, strive to step outside of their social comfort zone, welcoming people of all backgrounds and perspectives into their place of worship. 

Many of these urban churches post signage outside of their chapel to reassure first-time visitors that they are happy to have them there, further reinforcing the “all are welcome” mentality and reaffirming Christian hospitality.

While Raleigh itself has many spaces available for people seeking to find their community in faith, the same cannot be said for its surrounding rural areas. Many cities outside of the Triangle area stay stagnant in their exclusionary, clan-like ways, and show no initiative to change any time soon. 

Coming from a rural area, I have seen the effects of exclusion within churches. Outreach within the community becomes less prevalent, and many groups struggle to feel comfortable joining fellowships with the fear of being ostracized. 

At one point, this led me to become alienated from the religion as a whole, as I could not bring myself past the stereotypes that are often associated with Christianity — stereotypes that these communities perpetuate, further contributing to the reputation that the religion holds. 

However, living in an urban area, one in which churches strive to teach inclusion and value the insights of those who do not “fit in,” has opened my eyes to the true nature of Christianity. My hope is that rural churches come to recognize this disparity and begin to follow in the footsteps of their urban counterparts. 

To curb these harms, leaders and members within the church must confront its exclusionary nature head-on. They should create spaces for fostering open dialogue, encourage openness to diverse perspectives and strive to act in accordance with the gospel’s message of love and inclusion. 

By doing these things, rural churches can wash themselves clean of the clan-like stain that contributes to their decline, transforming themselves into a vibrant and life-giving community.