Very true, Joe. People want to feel good when they go to church. They don’t want to have their sins pointed out. That way, when they go home they can look down on their neighbor who is mowing his grass.
I think I told you what preceded my leaving the church of my youth, as an adult. There were two couples (one with children) who were in trouble. One wife and the other husband had begun seeing each other. The other husband was in the praise band and was confronted by his wife and the other husband seated close together in a pew, together. Not long into his torture, he looked like he had been run over. He had endured a reduction of priority at work in order to be able to enter counseling with his wife. I had taken the Spiritual Counseling course at the generosity of the education fund of the UMW and her husband begged her to come see me. We spent over three hours in a booth at Denny’s with my notebook on spiritual living when it dawned on me that all she wanted was for me to endorse her actions. I couldn’t. With some members of the congregation rooting for one or another outcome, I went to the pastor, spoke about my meeting (which he opposed vehemently) and suggested that a sermon (talk as he put it) be on the commandments and perhaps emphasis on the seventh. His reply disappointed me and made me begin to question today’s church. “I cannot give that kind of sermon. I am in the process of successfully building this congregation’s numbers, I can’t risk driving anyone away.” I did, rhetorically, ask if he was a pastor or motivational speaker. I didn’t wait for an answer, but I did finally make a decision I was waffling on, I changed churches (not denominations). They have had a new pastor since I moved and the church is shaking them up with a new pastor in July. I am not sure why. The current pastor has been a good ally and she did a wonderful funeral for my mother. I am assured the new pastor is quite good as well. I am just content with sermons based in scripture — the known vs. the unknown more than not, for me, I guess. For me, the statement above is true — based on the leading of the pastor.
joescheets
Very true, Joe. People want to feel good when they go to church. They don’t want to have their sins pointed out. That way, when they go home they can look down on their neighbor who is mowing his grass.
LikeLike
Well-put Naomi!!
LikeLike
I think some people fall into this camp, but there are still many people I know who fit the first category including myself!
LikeLike
I think I told you what preceded my leaving the church of my youth, as an adult. There were two couples (one with children) who were in trouble. One wife and the other husband had begun seeing each other. The other husband was in the praise band and was confronted by his wife and the other husband seated close together in a pew, together. Not long into his torture, he looked like he had been run over. He had endured a reduction of priority at work in order to be able to enter counseling with his wife. I had taken the Spiritual Counseling course at the generosity of the education fund of the UMW and her husband begged her to come see me. We spent over three hours in a booth at Denny’s with my notebook on spiritual living when it dawned on me that all she wanted was for me to endorse her actions. I couldn’t. With some members of the congregation rooting for one or another outcome, I went to the pastor, spoke about my meeting (which he opposed vehemently) and suggested that a sermon (talk as he put it) be on the commandments and perhaps emphasis on the seventh. His reply disappointed me and made me begin to question today’s church. “I cannot give that kind of sermon. I am in the process of successfully building this congregation’s numbers, I can’t risk driving anyone away.” I did, rhetorically, ask if he was a pastor or motivational speaker. I didn’t wait for an answer, but I did finally make a decision I was waffling on, I changed churches (not denominations). They have had a new pastor since I moved and the church is shaking them up with a new pastor in July. I am not sure why. The current pastor has been a good ally and she did a wonderful funeral for my mother. I am assured the new pastor is quite good as well. I am just content with sermons based in scripture — the known vs. the unknown more than not, for me, I guess. For me, the statement above is true — based on the leading of the pastor.
LikeLike
Always love hearing from you, Nanette; you’ve sure been in the trenches with the rest of us.
LikeLike
Thanks Joe!
LikeLike