Everything you know if you were raised in a Southern Baptist church

Like a lot of Southerners, I’ve been in a church every Sunday (and most Wednesdays) since I was a year old. And besides gaining a moral code, eternal benefits (hello, heaven) and tons of friendships, the church has been beneficial to me in ways I didn’t realize until I got older.

Patriotism is important

You’ll never find a group of people more supportive of America and the Armed Forces than you will in a Southern church. Every Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Fourth of July weekend, you can bet we’ll toss out Jesus music in favor of “America the Beautiful,” “My Country Tis of Thee” and the classic “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

We’re constantly praying for (read: not bashing) the government and its leaders. Being a good citizen is stressed, and veterans are honored and cared for constantly. There’s also an American flag in our church sanctuary as a reminder that the First Amendment makes it free to worship however we please, and we’re grateful for it.

Food is even more important

Any Southern Baptist knows that if there’s an event going on, there’s food, too. And it’s probably a potluck. There are picnics and cook-outs all summer long, and my mom is in charge of making cole slaw for funerals. Whenever someone is in the hospital or has a baby, their Sunday School class will make all the family’s meals for at least a week.

My church even has a “birthday party for Jesus” each Christmas, where we read the Christmas story aloud from the Bible and eat pizza and birthday cake. In fact, I’ve gotten so used to food being a central part of every event that I’ve been disappointed at school when there hasn’t been food at a meeting.

You know a little bit of Greek and Hebrew

Anyone who has ever been in a Bible study knows how important it is to understand what the Bible is really saying. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and the New Testament was mostly written in Greek. Naturally, some meanings can get lost in translation, which is why pretty much everyone who has been in a youth group knows about “agape love.”

There are four Greek words for love, each one having a different meaning. The most important one to a Christian is “agape,” meaning unconditional. The word “gospel” is also Greek – it literally means good news. Some Hebrew words make their way into our everyday language, too. Messiah and Hallelujah are just two examples.

You understand more English, too

Along the same lines, “church words” are English, but aren’t necessarily used that often outside a church setting. I can remember taking elementary school vocabulary tests and acing them because I knew what covenant, trinity, redeemer and fellowship (as in fellowship hall, where we eat all the food) meant before I could spell them.

Knowing the Bible also helped me ace some English classes. One summer reading project was about the crucifixion imagery in The Old Man and the Sea. I had known what Jesus’s crucifixion entailed since I was five years old, so the project was a lot easier for me.

Stage fright? What’s that?

Chances are, if you grew up in church, you were in a children’s choir and in every Christmas pageant. You probably even played baby Jesus at some point. Kids in church are no stranger to the stage, which is why I’ve never had stage fright. I’ve always been either singing, playing piano, or acting in a play.

I’m used to microphones, bright lights and costumes that involve a headdress. Now, some people do still develop a dislike of being in front of people, but most will still participate if they’re asked. It shocked me when people in high school told me they’d never been on stage before.

Service is a way of life

So few people know what a life of service is actually like. They weren’t used to people holding doors for them or giving an entire day to do volunteer work for others. Because I grew up in church, that’s all I’ve ever known. I’ve kept the nursery during church services, lead a group for Vacation Bible School, served meals to those who needed it, donated time and money to mission trips and even stacked chairs after dinner was over.

It’s not required, and no one looks down on you if you don’t do something, but it’s just a way of life in the church.

We know how to have good, clean fun

I’ll just let the pictures speak for themselves, here.