B4 giving up on church, try Highlands

My good colleague in ministry at Highlands, Rev. Duane Ferchen has a provocative response when someone tells him they don’t believe in God. With genuine curiosity, Duane asks, “Can you tell me more about the God you don’t believe in?”

I’d like to expropriate his question in response to those who tell me they’ve had it with church. “Can you tell me more about the kind of church you’re fed up with?”

If your image of “the church” includes preachers like Pat Robertson and his 700 Club or the Joel Osteen-types, I get it. I’m fed up with those so-called churches as I am fed up with the hypocrisy that has gripped much of the Evangelical Christian movement.

I left the church as a teenager because of men like Oral Roberts, Jerry Falwell, and their ilk. I remember when Roberts told his followers that God had warned him that if they didn’t send enough money, God was going to take him home. Falwell was far worse.

Rev. Falwell once said, “The Negro does not want integration, he realizes his potential is far better among his own race.” Falwell’s preaching was even more hateful when he spoke of the LGBTQ community. AIDS, he said, was not only a punishment for homosexuals but also for the society that tolerates them. Now the same stained mantel has been taken up by Falwell’s son.

I too am fed up with pastors like Joel Osteen who found his 2.9 million-dollar bungalow too shabby and used the tax-deductible contributions provided him by the believers to exchange it for a 17,000 square foot mansion costing $10.5 million. Unfortunately, Pastor Osteen doesn’t even top the list of those who have figured out how to monetize the Gospel.

Kenneth Copeland moves around the country in a $17.5 million-dollar jet, Charles E. Blake rests from his labors in the church vineyard in a Beverly Hills mansion, and then there is Rev. Creflo A. Dollar (that is really his name). Rev Dollar has enough of them to afford a Rolls Royce as well as expensive homes in Atlanta and New York City.

Is that the church you are fed up with? Is that the church you want nothing to do with? Me too. For many years, I thought I saw the face of Christianity in the faces of preachers like them. I heard their bigoted comments and self-serving appeal for dollars. I equated them to “the church,” and wanted nothing to do with that.

Before you give up on church altogether, let me tell you about an alternative; Highlands of Cheyenne. This vision statement tells you something about our little church. “Highlands is an inclusive faith community that gathers, shares, and acts on the ideals of Jesus’s teachings.”

These are our Core Values.

v We value diversity and accepting God’s children without judgment. We welcome all persons regardless of race, sexual orientation or identity, immigration status, or other characteristics that may define cultural differences.

v We value diversity of faiths. We recognize and honor our commonalities and believe an interfaith dialogue is critical to bringing about a just and compassionate world.

v We value fellowship and building relationships. We seek to be strengthened through authentic, trusting friendships among the people within our faith community.

v We value generosity.  We share our spiritual gifts and resources with the church and our community.

v We value God’s creation. We strive to be good stewards of the environment and advocates for a livable and sustainable world.

v We value social justice. We serve and advocate for the least of these our brothers and sisters.

v We value spiritual wellbeing.  We worship to feel God’s presence in our lives and strengthen our community. 

v We value thoughtful, honest, and discerning study of the Christian faith. 

Highlands is an alternative to what you have heard about Christians that may have kept you away from church. Before you give up altogether, I invite you to give us a try. Learn more at highlandsofcheyenne.com