If you’ve ever watched the Olympics or ESPN, I’m sure you’ve heard the term, “The competition is fierce.” Two competitors enter the arena to passionately face their competition and determine a clear winner. Whenever I hear that phrase being uttered, it evokes positive emotions, because I know something exciting is about to ensue. I know that resolution and definition, clarity and progress, are imminent.

When the competition is fierce, the passion is high. When the competition is fierce, the truth is discovered. When the competition is fierce, the competitors are refined and improved. And most of all, when the competition is fierce, the spectators are apprised.

It’s no secret that we have drawn some lines in the sand when it comes to our business and product approach. But, to be clear, we are limiting our critiques to the realm of healthy business competition. On a personal level, we truly love our brothers and sisters at these organizations and all that they aim to accomplish for the Church. On a business level, we want to spar. Just as the apostle Paul admonishes us to fight in such a way that we may win (when racing or boxing, no less), we want to compete in such a way that there is a clear winner. When a winner is determined, their supporters benefit.

Now, we understand that we can’t be everything to everyone. There are times when organizations like The City may be able to provide a better solution for certain customers; and we wish them well in that endeavor. But we believe that our approach serves the greater good of a greater number of customers…and we aren’t afraid to draw stark comparisons to prove that point.

To be fair, we are only continuing a battle that had already been started. When our competition began buying our Google AdWords and following our Twitter followers, we weren’t offended. On the contrary, we discovered a worthy competitor. One who seemed ready to battle head-to-head and see who would come out on top. While a winner is yet to be determined, the journey to victory is laced with excitement, endearment, and clarity.

Our goal with the direct approach we have chosen is not to condemn nor criticize our competition, but to go head-to-head, toe-to-toe, in an arena we have all entered willingly. Just as a prize fighter respects their opponent and hugs them after the bout is finished, so too we embrace our rivals and welcome them into the arena of ideas.

In the end, the clear winner is the Church. When the competition is fierce, the onlooker is refreshed by the passion, the clarity, and the conclusions of the battle. Even now, SoChurch has helped drive down the pricing of our competitors and foster further transparency within the church communication marketplace–and it is our hope to further encourage such transparency among the Christian technology realm as a whole. If we can serve the Church by over-serving, under-pricing, and inspiring others to do the same through healthy competition, then we–and all our brothers and sisters–have already won.

Do you think that some healthy competition is a good thing?  Or would you rather we all played nice and masked our messages in euphemism?