I was brought up going with (read: being dragged by) my mother 3x/week to the local Church of Christ. Dad, incredibly enough, was an atheist, yet he accompanied the family every Sunday morning, some Sunday nights and, rarely, on Wednesdays to evening services. Every preacher we had tried to "save" Dad, but he quickly and politely let the…
I was brought up going with (read: being dragged by) my mother 3x/week to the local Church of Christ. Dad, incredibly enough, was an atheist, yet he accompanied the family every Sunday morning, some Sunday nights and, rarely, on Wednesdays to evening services. Every preacher we had tried to "save" Dad, but he quickly and politely let them know they were wasting their time, and proceeded to genuinely befriend them. Once, during the reception after a wedding, officiated by the minister of the moment, Dad asked this preacher, "Bennie, do you really believe all the shit in your sermons?" This preacher, with a beer (GASP!) in hand, looked around the room to see if anyone was paying attention to him and Dad, and replied, "Lew, if these people knew what I really believe, they'd tar and feather me and ride me out of town in a rail." I have not one doubt that the same is true for all these mega-church con artists.
Makes me sad though I believe it. I have met Pastors and spoken with a couple who basically feel that the great swathes of the Bible should be torn out and thrown away. I’ve met an atheist pastor as well. Now many of those prefer the term minister or reverend and love the collar, but not all of them. Especially through the pandemic there were many, many pastors who questioned everything they believed and many left the church. Burn out is high.
The pastors that I’ve known well, truly believe. I’m sad for those attending churches where their ministers are just going through the motions but I get it.
I was brought up going with (read: being dragged by) my mother 3x/week to the local Church of Christ. Dad, incredibly enough, was an atheist, yet he accompanied the family every Sunday morning, some Sunday nights and, rarely, on Wednesdays to evening services. Every preacher we had tried to "save" Dad, but he quickly and politely let them know they were wasting their time, and proceeded to genuinely befriend them. Once, during the reception after a wedding, officiated by the minister of the moment, Dad asked this preacher, "Bennie, do you really believe all the shit in your sermons?" This preacher, with a beer (GASP!) in hand, looked around the room to see if anyone was paying attention to him and Dad, and replied, "Lew, if these people knew what I really believe, they'd tar and feather me and ride me out of town in a rail." I have not one doubt that the same is true for all these mega-church con artists.
Makes me sad though I believe it. I have met Pastors and spoken with a couple who basically feel that the great swathes of the Bible should be torn out and thrown away. I’ve met an atheist pastor as well. Now many of those prefer the term minister or reverend and love the collar, but not all of them. Especially through the pandemic there were many, many pastors who questioned everything they believed and many left the church. Burn out is high.
The pastors that I’ve known well, truly believe. I’m sad for those attending churches where their ministers are just going through the motions but I get it.