July 25, 2012
WHEN THE CHURCH WAS STRANGE
I heard an ethics professor paraphrase a letter once written by a father concerning his son in the following way: “Our son had done well. He had gone to good schools, had gone through the military, had gotten out, had looked like he had a very promising career ahead. Unfortunately, he has joined some eastern religious sect. Now he does not want to have anything to do with us because we are people of ‘the world.’ He is never going to marry because now his true family is this funny group of people he associates with. We are heartsick. We don’t know what to do about this.”
The ethics professor would then ask who wrote this letter. The guesses were that the letter was probably written by a father whose son had gotten caught up in some kind of cult like the Moonies or Hare Krishnas. In truth, the letter was written by a fourth century Roman senator about his son’s conversion to Christianity.
Why is conversion to Christianity in the twenty-first century not regarded as peculiar and subversive as it was in the fourth century? Virtually no one today outside the harshest critics of Christianity would think much about an individual’s conversion to Christianity. In fact, the majority of our western society at least in North America would probably applaud such a decision.
Now I would like to comfort myself with the thought that the major reason for the difference in reaction from the fourth century to the twenty-first century is because our society today is more Christian than the Roman fourth century society. Certainly our North American society has reaped many good societal and cultural benefits of almost two thousand years of Christianity. There is no question that the Judeo-Christian scriptures, the Bible, have impacted for the good our forms of government, law, music, art, philosophy, and our all-around culture. In addition, the spread of Christianity worldwide has made Christianity nothing unheard-of or new in the minds of most.
Yet I cannot help but question if mere familiarity with Christianity has made us less strange or peculiar in the eyes of society. An alternative thought might suggest that the Church in many respects has compromised and accommodated itself to the cultural and societal mores of the twenty-first century. I fear today that conversion is being whittled down to simply obeying a few response steps (hear, believe, repent, confess, and be baptized), and a promise to be more morally pure while attending worship services regularly. While we should always be moral and attend worship regularly, the question should be raised: “Is that all there is to being a Christian in the twenty-first century?”
The choice between Christianity and Roman society in the fourth century was a marked difference between the world and the church. This marked choice was not simply a moral one, but encompassed every aspect of life, how that life was to be lived, and how every aspect of this new life was to be represented. I believe I can safely say that the world is not more Christian and therefore the Church less strange. The question is, “How can the Church today be less like the world, and so more strange and subversive like Christ?”
– Terry
OUR NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR SUNDAY NIGHTS at Lewis Park continue on Sunday evening, August 5, at 6:00 p.m. In addition, we will provide free hamburgers and hot dogs to whomever chooses to come. Please come join us for an evening of fun, fellowship and food and invite your neighbors to come join us! *You might want to bring a lawn chair or two.
****There will be NO SUNDAY NIGHT SERVICE THIS SUNDAY, JULY 29.****
*****We want to thank all of the volunteers who have been making our Sunday Evenings at Lewis Park so wonderful. We appreciate all the hard work you do each week for all the preparation of the food, cooking the food, and the clean-up afterwards. It has made our Sunday Evenings a rewarding time each week.*****
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY MEETING -- On August 12th, immediately after morning services, there will be a meeting for all members who work with our children in any capacity, including camp, in the nursery and in children’s worship. Anyone who would like to work with children in the future should also plan to attend. The purpose of the meeting is to review the West Main Child Protection Policy and to update you on some changes in the background check policy. Our children’s safety is of great importance to all of us, so the Elders strongly encourage you to plan to participate in this meeting. If you have any questions please talk with one of the Elders. Thank you all for your continuing work in His service.
JAMES II PANTRY NEEDS: Our pantry is in need of several items: chicken noodle soup, jams or jellies, boxed macaroni and cheese, pancake mix and syrup. If you can donate any of these items, it would be greatly appreciated, or you can donate money to purchase these items. Thank you for all of your help.
CAMP LOST AND FOUND . . . If you left some of your things at camp, please check the tables in the courtyard to find your belongings. Please be sure to pick them up this Sunday. Thank you.
PRAYER REQUESTS . . . For Matthew York, who is having health concerns...For the granddaughter of Glenda Rennels, Allyson, for her blood pressure to come down and for her baby to gain weight...Cora and Barbara for their spiritual growth and outlook on life, and for David Mayes to be more Christ-like...For the families who are hurting in the aftermath of the Colorado shooting...For Shalya Davis and family as they move to New Orleans on July 31...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.
June 2012 Financial Statement
INCOME:
General Fund Contributions $ 26,534.00
Non-Budgeted Contributions $ 2,663.84
Development Funds & Rents $ 2,517.00
Interest/Other Income $ 0.45
Total Income $ 31,715.29
EXPENSES:
Administration and Payroll $11,885.14
Youth on Fire $1,091.37
Vision Ministries $295.29
Office $963.18
Nurturing Brethren $921.01
Operational Ministries $1,392.11
Worship & Facilities $1,303.15
Non-Budgeted Mission $727.83
Development & Kings Hwy $3,562.72
Total Monthly Expenses $22,141.80
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JULY ATTENDANCE
1st Sunday 233
2nd Sunday 230
3rd Sunday 278
4th Sunday 254
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August Coffee Server: Lois Smith
August Greeters: Dan & Denise Beeks; Jeff & Ranae Westeren,
John & Charlotte Winters; Ron & Sally Zielke
August Nursery Helpers:
August 5: Kathy York; Gabriel Liles
August 12 & 19: Laurie, Cady, Andrew Morris
August 26: No Nursery Available
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 28-August 3: PUMP
July 29: NO SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE
August 26: Sunday Encampment at Emigrant Lake
Neighbor to Neighbor Sunday Evenings at Lewis Park at 6:00 p.m.
on the following dates: August 5 & 12
