--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the things we find when we talk to…" description: "\"One of the things we find when we talk to people that attend these congregations, they all have social cost to it. People want to know why they're doin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/michael-emerson-4622_bits_one-of-the-things-we-find-when-we-talk-t_1769785.jpg" --- # One of the things we find when we talk to people that… ![“One of the things we find when we talk to people that attend these congregations, they all have social cost to it. People want to know why they're doing that. Sometimes they're questions about selling out on their race or "Are we not good enough that you have to go to this kind of congregation and…” quote by Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/michael-emerson-4622_bits_one-of-the-things-we-find-when-we-talk-t_1769785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/michael-emerson-4622_bits_one-of-the-things-we-find-when-we-talk-t_1769785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/michael-emerson-4622_bits_one-of-the-things-we-find-when-we-talk-t_1769785.jpg) > “One of the things we find when we talk to people that attend these congregations, they all have social cost to it. People want to know why they're doing that. Sometimes they're questions about selling out on their race or "Are we not good enough that you have to go to this kind of congregation and not ours?" So there are costs to it, and I think they're a little bit higher in the South because of its history.” [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Social costs of attending certain congregations stem from historical and racial tensions, influencing personal choices. **In simple terms:** Historical context adds social cost to worship choices. Key Takeaway Consider the broader impact of congregational choices. Themes social dynamics race history community choice Mood thoughtful analytical Type sociological critical When to use this quote - church selection - interfaith dialogue - policy making - community outreach Key Concepts social identity theory cultural capital group cohesion Questions to Reflect On - What drives your congregational preferences? - How can communities reduce perceived social costs? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on cost may overlook personal spiritual benefits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Congregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congregation/) [Congregations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congregations/) [Good enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-enough/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Selling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling/) [Selling out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling-out/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I see it happen in uniracial congregations all the time. But people - when they're in mixed company, we speak differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/i-see-it-happen-in-uniracial-congregations-all-the-time-but-people/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [“In addition, a disturbing number of congregations make it clear that they don’t really want people whose lives are a mess (especially after they’ve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-l-heuertz/in-addition-a-disturbing-number-of-congregations-make-it-clear-that/) [Christopher L. 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They must work, if they would have God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ichabod-spencer/there-are-multitudes-in-our-congregations-who-are-just-waiting-while/) [Ichabod Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichabod-spencer/) > [“Most priests wish they were as righteous as they seem to most members of their congregations.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/most-priests-wish-they-were-as-righteous-as-they-seem-to-most-members/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [There is real value in these local congregations. For me, a lot of it is the value of the sacraments we share. In neighborhoods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-claiborne/there-is-real-value-in-these-local-congregations-for-me-a-lot-of-it/) [Shane Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-claiborne/) > [The reason why congregations have been so dead is because they have dead men preaching to them. 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Megachurches - defined as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahl-raz/slick-marketing-high-tech-production-values-and-a-practical-message/) [Tahl Raz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahl-raz/) > [“Whenever He answers prayers, God usually prioritizes those by people who, instead of their mouths, have prayed with their hands and/or feet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/whenever-he-answers-prayers-god-usually-prioritizes-those-by-people/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“While many congregations are less than vibrant, my experience has shown that where the Word is taught, the Spirit of the Lord is present.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/while-many-congregations-are-less-than-vibrant-my-experience-has/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [When I meet pastors, I'm not like, 'Hey, you should go out there and be a rapper.' 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O that the Lord may quicken and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-whitefield/the-reason-why-congregations-have-been-so-dead-is-because-they-had/) [George Whitefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-whitefield/) ## More by Michael Emerson > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [Call-and-response style, yes, exactly. So whenever different groups get together then there has to be this long period of negotiation. 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