I would prefer being fed to the lions over being irrelevant to these vibrant young people.

Diana Bass’ book A People’s History of Christianity tells the story of Anthony who wondered into a local church. Anthony had recently become wealthy because of his parents’ untimely death. There he heard a sermon on the Gospel of Luke 18:18-23 which tells the story of another rich young man.  “A certain ruler asked Jesus, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" “You know the commandments,” Jesus responded, 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"  "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.”

Unlike the rich young man of the Gospel story, Anthony left the church and did just what Jesus asked. He gave all he had to the poor and retired to an ascetic life in the Egyptian desert. When I read the story, it occurred to me that those who read the Bible literally usually don’t give everything they have to the poor and those who read it allegorically think Anthony is a hero!

Such are the ambiguities of Bible study. It’s the genius of the Bible that its inherent contradictions make it difficult property to be claimed by either us liberals or those conservatives. Part of God’s design is that this book is a rather thin reed with which to win an argument. God intended it to be a collection of writings that would cause us to think and reflect rather than argue.

Bass reports on a recent poll of youthful churchgoers. A third of them thought Christians to be boring, exclusive, judgmental, hypocritical and out of touch with the real world. Contrast that with the Romans who fed our ancestors to the lions only because they thought we were naïve! I don’t know about you but I would prefer being fed to the lions over being irrelevant to these vibrant young people.

All of that is my way to interest you in a book study. We are going to have an energetic dialogue about Bass’s book. It begins tonight (March 1^st) at 6PM and will continue March 8^th and conclude March 15^th. Sessions run from 6-8 PM at Highlands Presbyterian Church in Cheyenne.

Join us as we look for our friends in the early church to teach us how to make friends for the contemporary church.

Religion? All or none...

Near the end, Woody Guthrie checked himself into a hospital, suffering from the Huntington Disease that would soon take his life. The admissions nurse asked his religious affiliation as she filled out the forms. He replied, “All.” She said that would not do. He had to make a choice. Guthrie said, “It’s either all or none!”
For a growing number of Americans, the contemporary choice is “none.”  The Barna Group, a leading research organization focused on the intersection of faith and culture, reports 28% of the adult population has not attended any church activities in the past six months. When their children are added to the picture, the data translates into 100 million empty seats in the pews. 

           

I know a lot of folks who fall into this category. They are good people who feel strongly about family and community values. They devote time and money to good causes and charitable endeavors. They are spiritual folks and it’s hard to imagine a heaven without them being there. But they don’t attend church.

           

If churches want to understand why, they will need to look into a mirror rather than through a window. One church historian and theologian, Diana Butler Bass, wrote a book after one of her close friends said to her, “I don’t understand how you can still be a Christian.” Church-going Christians might ask themselves the same question. Rather than wringing our hands about why “they” don’t attend our churches, we might reflect on why we still do.

           

Dr. Butler not only reflected. She wrote a book about it. A People’s History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story. Butler’s conclusion is that contemporary churches have failed to provide people with a “meaningful narrative” of their faith. Too many churches have failed to connect what it was about the 1^st century church that started the movement with our modern lives. The story of Christianity and how it changed the world is far more complex and interesting than one might hear from too many pulpits. What is now largely a doctrinal system was once a way of life.

           

The church I pastor, Highlands Presbyterian, is exploring these issues, reflecting theologically. Whether you would answer like Woody Guthrie or those 100 million un-churched Americans, you are welcome to join us for a three week study of Diana Bass’ book.

We will gather informally on Tuesday evenings at 6-8 PM at Highlands (2390 Pattison Avenue, Cheyenne) starting March 1^st concluding March 15^th. Pick up her book. Even if you can’t join us for the book study, it is a read well worth your time.