Sunday morning, Josh played to a packed house. The "regulars" got a good sermon and all the usual Sunday morning ceremony. Paul uttered more than one sigh of relief, Mrs. Hoddy was content, and the "thrill seekers" went away with nothing special to think about. “The Challenge" was not mentioned, which left at least a few in the congregation disappointed for the right reasons. What had been sown the previous Sunday evening had fallen on fertile ground, in at least some instances.
On Sunday evening, word had apparently spread that it was business as usual, again. No more Sunday serials, and apparently no more "true confessions" from the pastor. Church was full, but not unusually so. Josh was relieved. He had a feeling that the ones who needed to be there were there.
As Emily played the opening hymn ("I Have Decided to Follow Jesus" - very appropriate, although Josh hadn't picked it out). Josh sat with his eyes closed and he thought about what he had to say. It wasn't exactly what he'd had in mind this time last week, but it seemed the right start now. He said "Thank You, Lord" out loud, and arose to address the congregation.
"Those of you who were here last Sunday night know that I promised to start a series of lessons on Jesus, and what we know about Him. Knowing all we can is obviously important if we are going to try to do what Jesus would. And I should say here that, after really thinking and praying about it for a week, I have decided to accept my own challenge of learning to live more closely to Him, and to see what the Holy Spirit has to offer me in my daily life. I hope some of you are moved to adventure with me."
There was a little stirring in the congregation, but Josh couldn't pick out any particular reactions, good or bad. Thank You, Lord!
"Tonight will be pretty basic because I think most - maybe all - of us here tonight are Christians. Still, it's very important to set the stage, so that we know what we have a right to expect in the days and weeks ahead.
"Is there any question in your mind that Jesus really was God in human form? There shouldn't be, because as C. S. Lewis wrote in his book 'Mere Christianity,’ Jesus made it impossible for us to believe anything except that He is the Son of God, that He can forgive sins, and that He would rise from the dead. When a person says things like these, you can only believe one of three things: that he is who he says he is, that he is a liar, or that he is nuts! Think about it; would any 'normal' person claim those things? And it isn't too logical, is it, to base your life and hopes on a religion founded by either Number Two or Number Three?
"Also, you can't fool yourself by taking the mid-way stance of some of the Eastern religions, that Jesus wasn't the Son of God but He was a good teacher worth following. Again, how much teaching would you like to take from an instructor who you knew was either unbalanced or was purposely trying to deceive you?"
There was a little soft murmuring about that.
"What's that? You say you had teachers like that? Well, they probably felt the same about you!"
That brought a good laugh, and seemed to relieve a little of the tightness in the atmosphere. Josh caught Evalyn's eye, and she winked at him. He noticed that she was sitting with Debbie Fiedler. Good girl!
"One other thing: we didn't actually hear Jesus say these things about Himself. It was reported to us in the Bible, our only written authority on Jesus. If the report wasn't true, what would be the basis for our belief? Could we be Christians?
"Well, as I said at the start, this is all pretty basic for the Christian. Jesus is the Son of God, God incarnate who actually walked among women and men. It's wild - it's never happened before or since - but we believe it! Why is that? How can hard-headed, skeptical men and women like you and me believe something that might have come out of a fairy tale? I think the answer is that God Himself put it into our hearts to believe it. For most of us, I suspect He had to turn off our 'head switches’ before our ‘heart switches' would work. But did you know that, once He gets through, you can use your head again, too? Why not? Turning ourselves over to Him is so logical (once you've done it) that we wonder how we could have had doubts, before.
"Where do I go from here? Well, I take the plunge and say that if we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and if we believe it because it is written in the Bible and because God Himself gives us the faith to believe it, then we must also believe that the other things that the Bible relates are true. And we do believe them. You who are ‘official’ members of this church signed a statement that said you believe the Bible. It has become a basic premise of the Christian faith that the Bible is the infallible word of God."
Josh paused for a few seconds to let his words sink in. The church was very still, and most eyes seemed to be focused on him.
"But now comes a little glitch in the system. We say we believe the Bible, and the church folks down the street say they believe the Bible, and the folks across town say that they believe it, too. But we ‘believe’ it differently enough that we've formed separate denominations so we can each pass on our beliefs in peace. So, who's right? Well, obviously, we are!"
There was a little laughter at that, but it was uneasy, uncertain. Good, thought Josh.
"I didn't hear unanimous applause there. And really, I didn't expect to, because I know you people, and I know that you all realize that some of what we believe is not ‘Bible truth’ at all, but is really church doctrine. Differences in interpretation have sprung up because the Bible is not really all that easy to read and understand. Some passages are very obscure, and Bible scholars have argued for years about the precise meaning of certain words and phrases. Denominations have often arisen because certain Christians felt so strongly about their interpretation that they had to separate themselves from other Christians.
"I was able to accept all this arguing about the true meanings of Bible passages because, in most cases, the arguments were about pretty obscure things. Almost no group that regards itself as Christian departs very far from the basic, greatest Bible belief - salvation through Jesus Christ. Therefore, what we believe versus what they believe in the church down the street usually comes down to what we are comfortable with. You worship here rather than down the street because, to quote a famous fast food slogan, ' we do it your way'."
That got a few chuckles, but for the most part people were expectantly quiet. This didn't seem to be so basic, anymore!
"I'm having some trouble now accepting that we as Christians separate ourselves into groups in which we're comfortable, and isolate ourselves from other Christians. It seems to me that if the Bible is true, then it ought to be true for everybody. If we are right and other Christians are wrong, they may be missing some very important wisdom and direction. It works the other way around, too, with the possibility of them being right and us being wrong.
“Now, I think - and I emphasize 'think,' because this is a new idea for me - I think we are missing some good things because we are making God's word too hard. I think (and we can pursue this in scripture, if you like) that God meant every one of us to deal directly with Him. Teachers and pastors are used by God (please remember that - Ev and I like the job and need the money!), but if you were on that proverbial desert island all by yourself, I am confident that God could - and would - talk directly to you without any help from me. And I don't think you need to wait for a shipwreck. I think you can communicate with Him right now, without using me as either your teacher or your spokesperson.
"And since I'm getting myself into deeper water all the time, I'll say that I think (there's that word again!) that denominational teachings have sprung up because we haven't relied on God to teach us our Christianity, but instead we've depended on the fallible interpretations of our fellow men and women. I think the phrase that some of us have come to regard as a cop-out - that the Bible is true 'when properly discerned’ - is maybe absolutely true. But 'when properly discerned' doesn't refer to which scholar is right, but to the ability of the Holy Spirit to tell us what is true. I believe that this is pointed out to us, among other places, in James 1:5. Let me read it to you: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given unto him. I like that!
"Well, I'm going to stop there for tonight, but let me invite you to do something this week. Before you read your Bible, pray a little prayer first. Make it something simple, like: God, if Your Holy Spirit-is available to me to help me understand Your word, then I want that help now. I think James 1:5 gives me the right to expect it. Thank you, Lord. I'm going to be praying that prayer, too.
"Now, before we sing a final song, let's have our ushers come forward to collect our evening offering. And while they're coming, let me offer an invitation. I'm not pushing any of you to accept last week's challenge, because I feel it's important for individuals to make very personal decisions. On the other hand, I am available if you want to talk, pray together, share experiences, or whatever. Our actions are individual and personal, but we are part of a body - the Body of Christ."
***
At the door, there were the usual polite handshakes and a few acknowledgments that "that was a wonderful sermon, Pastor." Harry and Beverly Allen shook Josh's hand vigorously, said "Praise the Lord," and clearly meant it. Debbie hugged him. Nobody specifically said that they didn't like the sermon, but he read some signals that way.
Paul and Jenny had gone by the time he reached the door, and it was only at home later, when the kids had gone to bed, that he heard Paul's reaction.
"He said 'Tell him to be careful, Ev.' That was all."
That was enough for Josh. "I really don't understand, Ev. What's he so worried about?"
"I don't understand, either, but something is certainly scaring or threatening him."
"Well, it can't go on. I better see him tomorrow, and see if we can straighten this out."
Then they talked about the good things - Debbie had been aglow, Carolyn seemed to hang on every word, Bev and Harry acted like the service was the best thing since chocolate was invented - but it didn't quite do the job. They both went to sleep a little moody and subdued.
* * *
At Grayson's, the Currys and Whites were gathered again, and the tone was more critical than the last time.
"What's he doing, Paul?" demanded Don. "Now he's questioning the teachings of the church!"
"Now wait, Don, that's a little strong."
"Well, what do you call it? He implied - no, he flat-out said - that what our denomination teaches may be wrong."
"We can't have it," Margaret added. "He's got to go."
"Hold on now, folks! I know you're upset. So am I. But let's try to keep it in perspective."
"That's what you said the last time, Paul," said Herb. "But what is 'perspective,' anyway? I agree with Don. He's on the verge of blasphemy."
"I thought you had it all straightened out," accused Don.
"I thought I had, too. But please, folks, let's try to talk this out reasonably."
Herb stood up. "All right, let's be reasonable. Two weeks ago, our pastor decides to write and read ‘Peyton Place Il' in church. Eccentric maybe, but okay. He decided against it. But then, one week ago, he tells the whole congregation that he doesn't know what he's doing, and he wants us to help him do a little experimenting. Then, tonight, he tells us that you can't believe the Bible the way you used to. Now you have to pray for a new interpretation. Frankly, it doesn't sound to me like he's been praying; it sounds like he's been smoking something!"
Carolyn had been quiet so far. "That isn't fair, Herb. Reverend Felton really believes that we can be closer to God, and he's trying to show us how. You're misinterpreting what he said."
They all looked at her. “How did you come up with that?" her husband asked.
"I talked to Evalyn - Mrs. Felton - last week, when she was in the park. They're trying to help the church, not hurt it."
"Funny way to do it!" said Margaret.
"Well, let me talk to him tomorrow," said Paul. "Maybe we can still fix it."
***
"You haven't said a thing all evening, Jenny."
This was after their visitors had gone. She looked up from the paper that she clearly wasn't really reading.
"I'm scared, Paul. This is getting... I don't know; vicious, I guess. How can they be that way?"
"Jenny, I warned Josh! I told him that people wouldn't like him messing with their church services, trying new techniques and causing them to question both their faith and him. It really is serious. If he doesn't reconsider, he could be out!"
Jenny brushed the paper onto the floor savagely, but more in frustration than anger. "But, Paul, it's all out of perspective. I don't know if Josh is doing it right, but I can see what he's doing, and I think it really is a good message."
"Good message or not, if the church doesn't want it, they won't take it. Not from him or anybody."
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