It's been almost four weeks since my last post on a church visit. I can't make it to a new church every Sunday. I still have to frequent the church of my current membership in order to maintain certain illusions for certain people. I've been an active church goer since birth and deconverting from Christianity didn't change that. Last Sunday I visited the First Baptist Church in Oxford at their 8:30 AM service. It use to be intimidating to walk into a new church. I think they are going to smell the godlessness on me, but now I realize it is difficult for anyone to talk to visitors. I just put on my Sunday Best, carry my Bible (it has my name with gold lettering on it), put on a fake smile and I look like everyone else. I probably look like a reporter the way I scribble notes and quickly turn pages in my Bible to keep up with the lesson.
There were close to 250 people in attendance at this service. 16 members made up the choir and it was probably one of the better choirs I've heard in my visits. Last Sunday was Father's Day, so the preacher asked all of the fathers to stand for a prayer. It was an eloquent prayer, but I did note that the preacher prayed for all of the first generation of believing dads so that they may "end the cycle of disobedience." It is usually subtle the way non-belief is associated with disobedience, as if I am more disobedient than your average Christian. The idea is so pervasive that he probably didn't realize that it would bother anyone. Within the same prayer, he encouraged dads to be good givers, both in the nurturing parenting context and in the monetary context: the collection plate was being passed around immediately after the prayer.
The preacher began his lesson by directing everyone to 1st Kings 1:5. I found myself engaged in his lesson. I'm suppose to be critical of these sermons and this lesson was good. The story was of King David, a man after God's own heart who was also one of the most sexually deviant men of the Bible. His lesson focused on all of David's sexual sins and how this reflected poorly on him as a father. According to the Bible, David's children would commit some of these same sins. Everything he said he backed up with scripture perfectly. He wanted the men of the congregation to look to David as an example of what not to do. This preacher advocated responsible parenting, and I had to agree with every word of it. While many preachers want to fix society's ills by influencing legislation that effects everyone, this preacher was calling for parents to be more involved with their kids.
At the end, I thought this preacher did a perfect job with his lesson. He concluded his lesson with a prayer, and in that prayer, he goofed. He mentioned that although David was not a responsible parent, he still maintained the linage of Christ through his son Nathan. In the Book of Luke, the writer records the linage of Christ all the way back to Adam. There, the writer records Nathan in that linage. The Book of Matthew also records the linage of Christ all the way back to Abraham, but in that book, David's son Solomon carries the linage of Christ. Clearly, the Bible is in dispute with itself. Apologists have responded by saying that one linage represents Mary's family and one represents Joseph's family, but each gospel clearly says that its linage contains Joseph. Because one gospel (or both) has the facts wrong on this point it does throw the validity of the Jesus story into question. The only reason why I mention this is because the preacher used David, Nathan, and Christ as the focal point of his lesson without giving a word to the controversy surrounding his point.
The service concluded with a few songs (all of which I thought were performed well) and a few announcements. I was out the door in time to walk into a different church less than a block away. To date, I've revisited the Episcopalian church, the Presbyterian church, and the Church of Christ at least once just to make sure I'm not visiting a church on an overly good or bad Sunday. Soon everyone in this town will know me.
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7 comments:
While I agree with what you're saying and agree that it's good way of learning more about the faults of Christianity, perhaps this is a little too dishonest? It seems like you're lowering yourself to the level of them to learn about them. Just a thought. :) At the very least, perhaps you could lose the Bible and, if asked, admit that you're here to listen but are not a believer?
Hello, Blue! Thanks for your suggestion. I might try that sometime: outing myself before a church service to see what happens. For the time being, I want to see a spectrum of Christian viewpoints as they occur naturally. As for being dishonest, I do not agree. I'm seeing what they have to offer without putting myself at any sort of risk. I do not see Christians as people lower than me. I see Christians as equals who are trying to understand reality in their own way. While I deplore what religion does to people, these people are content in keeping their religion. Going into churches is one way to find out why.
I don't mean that Christians are lower than you--I mean that a lot of religion involves being dishonest and tricking people, unfortunately. I don't mean Christians themselves, just the people who use the dirty tactics to draw others into it. Sorry for the mix up :)
And you're right, it would help to see what they say naturally, not when they're trying to convert people.
I find this series absolutely fascinating.
I agree, Jason. It is a fascinating series, and I find myself looking forward to each post. I think I've said this before, but it makes me feel like I'm reading a series of good anthropological work.
I think I understand what Blue is saying here. Ordinarily, I'd probably agree. Thing is, this is Mississippi. I'd be extremely concerned that Oliver might be assaulted by legions of rabid Christians if he was too open about his feelings toward religion. Yes, I suppose there is some dishonesty in blending in. But some measure of that might be needed in this case.
I'm the pastor who preached that Father's Day sermon. I'm glad you came and hope you'll come by again. Thanks for the review. Nice catch on the problem of Jesus' linneage in Matthew and Luke. The one time I decide not to explore a difficulty in the text and there's an atheist in the house--go figure!
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