Church For Sale (969 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.41 on 12 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by thankfullynolonger.at.aol.com (View user info) at 2003-11-09 12:49:13 EST
My whole life, I have lived in one house. My whole life, this house has been directly across the street from a church. It's a nice looking, older church, built of yellow stones and stained glass. UCC. I only go to the services for Christmas Eve and Easter, when the rest of the family wants everyone to be there. Familial unity, I guess. Now that they added the "no parking" signs to our side of the street, traffic isn't too bad (though it used to be impossible to pull in our out of our driveway almost every day of the week, since something is always going on: BEDS, homeless lunch, AA, charity drives, church itself, etc.). And at the somewhat gothic style church (but in a non-imposing fashion) there has been an ever-growing crowd of people who would rather see it run as a business (who will now be referred to as "the crowd").
"What's bad for the church economically is bad for the members spiritually," is their cry; a cry that we've lost two ministers and a third of the congregation to. When the church decided to become OAA (Open And Affirming, to those of you who don't know; it means willing to accept members of any sexual orientation, and it's the only church in our area who is officially OAA) a large portion of the Congregation protested, refusing to give donations and, in many cases, leaving the church. They claimed that such a controversial stance would drive donations away. Ironic how the only money the church lost was that of the protesting crowd. The OAA issue was a very rare case, however, in that the church was adamant about the stance despite objection from this crowd; usually they'd get their way immediately, as they do possesses most of the financial strength.
The most recent issue was involving the Director of Music. Many have suspected him to be a closet homosexual for years, because of all the usual, stereotypical reasons. The crowd wanted him gone as well, claiming their reason was that the church was "focusing entirely too much on music" (much like the OAA issue, the church is the only one in the region to have a full time Music Director). Well, as of last night, they got their wish. In his spare time, the Director of Music would help troubled kids out online: suicidal kids, depressed kids, drug-abusers, and whatnot. Maybe he should have left it to those who were authorized to do so, but nonetheless, his intentions were pure. Recently, he was talking to someone he thought was a suicidal teenager, but he discovered that they were actually an internet vigilante, who, after suspecting the Director of Music to be an internet predator, organized a makeshift site against him. Throughout the week the Director of Music received several threatening letters in the mail, as well as several simply offensive ones... I don't quite know what purpose they intended to serve. Though the police and internet administrators cleared up the issue, saying he was innocent of all charges, there would be no investigation, etc., the crowd (those of them what had stuck around, anyway) still felt he would be a harm to our fine, morally-upstanding church. He was forced to resign over "improper use of work computers" (that is, the helping kids out online in his free time, albeit on the work computer).
There will probably be some sort of church vote over this. I don't know if I really should be entitled to vote, what with my seldom appearance at the services, but I am. Maybe if the crowd has their way I'll be able to afford a few votes.
User Reviews
Submitted by RubySlipper (user info) at 2003-11-11 02:03:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I suppose any "christianity" that is not catholicism derived from protestantism.
But I am actually referring to pure, non-denominational, non-religious christianity.
Believe the bible, not someone's interpretation of it.
I think some people believe that "christianity" orginated from that split between Catholics
and Protestants... but I think it was here from the beginning and that was the only time
it was possible to find the pure form- i suppose that Adam and Eve and Jesus are the only
three that have ever and will ever know what that can be like- perfectly.
It's hard now. Too much corruption and too many people throwing around words like they
know what they mean.
Submitted by atz (user info) at 2003-11-10 13:42:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
RubySlipper: Yeah, many Christians (if you say they're different from Catholics and Mormons, then you must be referring to Protestants) fail to realize that sin is sin to God. There is no little sin and big sin. They need to understand that everybody is a sinner, and nobody is better than anybody in that respect. When Jesus said that hating someone is the same as committing murder, he was serious. Unfortunately this is a problem most Christians have.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2003-11-10 05:23:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by RubySlipper (user info) at 2003-11-10 05:02:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I wish christian people would wake up and realise that they are not "better" than
the masses. It's so funny because i think that anyone who calls themself a
"christian" (make no mistake this is different than catholicism, mormonism- whatever)
should at least know what they are talking about and have read the bible- Seeing
as it is what they are supposed to believe. If these people would do this, they would
know that all sins are equal in the eyes of God. So yes, the bible says homosexuality
is wrong- but it also says that lying is wrong, or that sleeping with your secretary
when your wife is out of town is wrong. Hey guess what, beating your family is wrong
and so is speeding in your car.
How many pastors speed on the way to church in the morning when they are late?
You are no better than any other "sinner"- so stop with the self righteousness.
Acceptance and understanding speak way louder than piety and preaching.
Submitted by atz (user info) at 2003-11-10 04:29:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow. I know how you feel. I assume your church is Baptist, Methodist, or some other traditional Protestant denomination. There are different forms of church government, and yours appears to be congregational, where every church member has a voice. I went to a church like this, as well as a presbyterian church, which is run by a group of men (usually twelve of them) elected by the congregation. And both churches have lost pastors and many, many members (such as myself, being a considerably important part of the youth and music ministry in the congregational church).
Well, I'm trying to figure things out as far as my religious beliefs, but I'm still in school and don't have any other pressing commitments, so I go to church. The church I go to is Charismatic, as far as worship goes. We lift up our hands and crazy things like that. We don't play the music which has been passed on from generation to generation (well, sometimes we do, but it's generally more youth-oriented). So that keeps people from dying of boredom. But the thing about this church that really makes it work is its government, which is episcopalian, in which one person runs the church. Call it a dictatorship if you will, but I see it as this: you come to the church and see that one man runs it. If you don't like it, then leave. But if you don't have any problem with it, then stay, and you'll see that we don't have any problems that other churches have. I'm very happy with the church.
I hope you can work things out in your church better than my old churches could.
Cicciro: What is it that makes a song a worship song? Take, for example, "Holy, Holy, Holy", one of the oldest songs in most hymnals:
Holy, holy, holy
Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning my song shall rise to thee
Holy, holy, holy
Merciful and mighty
God in three persons, Blessed Trinity
[I may have some of the lines mixed up there]
So this song describes God as being holy and mighty and such. But note the third line, which basically says, "I'll worship you." Now, take next line of the song, "Heart of Worship":
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it, when it's all about you, it's all about you, Jesus
Isn't this song talking about the same thing you were, that many songs are about emotions rather than just worshiping God? I'm actually not sure that I'm understanding what you mean, but I feel that just because a song doesn't sound majestic and with complex words, it can still be a worship song. Please explain further.
Submitted by MrWillard (user info) at 2003-11-09 18:53:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by hidden101 (user info) at 2003-11-09 16:43:02 (#)
Ranking: 2
this is why i'm not a christian anymore. at least this is VERY close to the reason i'm not anymore.
What he said.
Submitted by Cicciro (user info) at 2003-11-09 17:59:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Music is fun, when it is real worship music.
Today, every song we sing tends to be lyrically about feelings, instead of giving praise to God.
Even some are human centered, like Heart of Worship.
And I quote:
"I'm comming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about You, all about you Jesus." This isn't a worship song, it's a prayer in song. How can a worship song describe human deeds? How are human deeds worshipping God? I don't get it anymore, bring the hymns back into every church. Bring the real worship back.
Submitted by hidden101 (user info) at 2003-11-09 16:43:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
this is why i'm not a christian anymore. at least this is VERY close to the reason i'm not anymore.
music is an essential part of the foundation of spirituality. music is an inherently primal part of humans. it's what drives us. i believe that it should be encouraged the most.
when i was a catholic, the only part of mass that i didn't sleep through was the hymns. i sang. when i decided to abandon catholicism because of a similar reason to what your post describes the congregation turning into, i decided to try out prodestant churches. i went to a baptist church where i met many great people. amoung the ones i respected the most were the musicians. this church had some of the most talented musicians i've ever seen. it's what kept me going, it was what drove me. i started getting more involved in the music, and developed my guitar skills to a new height. i loved it.
it lasted a few years, and then it just all crumbled down on me. people changed, they lost focus, and forgot what being people of the faith was all about.
so now i will never go to church again for the rest of my life. too many christians are judgemental and hypocritical and quick to point the finger. that's why i make posts like "why are christians making the rules for me?"
i feel sorry for the music director. he sounds like a good man.
Submitted by jimbobjoe (user info) at 2003-11-09 15:29:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Sounds like the church could be heading in the right direction if it were not
for "the crowd" trying to derail the efforts of being good to thy nieghbour.
I always like to use bible quotes in context to argue with the religious right.
Here are my two favorites:
"Let he who is without sin throw the first stone."
"Judge not; lest ye be judged."
It generally makes people stop and think a second. It won't necessarily win any
arguments for you, but it will make people stop yelling for just a minute...
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2003-11-09 15:14:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
you should protest this decision.
Submitted by YellowDragon (user info) at 2003-11-09 15:01:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm with sublime.
Go music director! Direct that music!
Submitted by sublime (user info) at 2003-11-09 12:54:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
sad, but good story, i want to know what happens.
you should try and rally for that music director.