The Monday elders' meet could have been volatile, but in fact it was a pretty calm affair. Josh apologized for not keeping the board informed, and confessed that he had not remembered the rule about non-members participating in church services. (He didn't admit that he didn't know the Allens were non-members.) It was agreed that the small group meeting could continue, if the same opportunity was given to all church members. (That bothered Don, and he tried to impose some restrictions on what could be discussed at those meetings. However, the majority voted against him.) The situation got stickiest when Paul expressed the board's desire that Josh quell his more artistic urges, and keep the church low-key and "traditional." Margaret made some comment about "all the foolishness," and Don seemed ready to talk again about what could be discussed at group meetings. However, Ted adroitly brought the meeting to a close, with no really hard words spoken.
***
"Well, is that it?" asked Connie, as she, Ted and the Graysons shared a pot of coffee at the Blacker home.
Paul looked at Jenny, who raised her eyebrows and gave him a small, enigmatic smile.
"Well?" prompted Connie, when no one gave her an answer.
"Jenny doesn't think so," said Paul.
"I didn't say that," protested Jenny.
"You didn't have to; I can hear your mind working from over here! Well, I think I agree with you. This is the calm before the storm. I don't think Josh can stop now, but I wish... "
"What do you wish?" Ted prompted, when Paul didn't continue.
Paul laughed, shortly. "I don't know. I started to say that I wish it was over, but I'm not sure I do wish that, anymore."
"Paul!" Jenny jumped from her chair, and came over to him. "What are you saying?”
He held up a hand, as if to quell her enthusiasm. "Wait. I don't know what I'm saying. It just doesn't seem quite so cut and dried as it did."
"I don't know what you two are talking about," said Connie, "But I hope what happened in the church yesterday never ends! Did you ever feel such excitement - so much expectation - in the sanctuary? I thought once or twice the whole congregation was going to erupt into spontaneous song or prayers. It was great!"
Paul looked at her, quizzically. "You felt it, too? You know, all the way to the meeting tonight, I kept asking myself what in the world we were doing."
"Oh, Paul!" Jenny put her arms around him, and started to cry. He put his hands on her shoulders, but didn't hug back. Ted and Connie looked at them and at each other, both asking themselves the same silent questions.
"Wait a minute, Jen," Paul said. He pushed her gently away from him. "Don't read too much into this. I still feel strongly that we've got to protect the church, and keep things orderly. I still believe that things aren't right, yet. But I do feel the power of Josh's sermons, and I contrast that with the narrow little minds of people like Herb and the Whites, and... I just wonder, that's all."
Jenny wiped a tear from her cheek. "That's good enough for me, - for now."
***
The Newsoms had come home with the Feltons, and the Allens came right over. Josh explained to Bev and Harry what had happened. "So, it's not too bad. Nothing was said - nothing was stipulated - that I can't agree to. If you two could officially join the church, we wouldn't have to change a thing."
Harry looked at Beverly in a way that alerted Josh to some unexpected problem. "I really want you helping with the services, Harry. Membership is the quick answer."
"I'm sorry, Josh," said Harry. "We can't join the church."
"You can't?"
"Well, we won't join."
Pete expressed all their puzzlement. "But, why not? You're really part of the church, already. We didn't even remember that you weren't members."
"That's just the point," said Beverly.
“What is?" asked Pete.
Harry replied. "The point is that we already are members - members with you folks, members of the Body of Christ. We don't need any other membership."
"No, of course you don't," said Evalyn, "But would it hurt?"
Harry shook his head. "I don't know, Ev; maybe not. But, on the other hand, Bev and I have given a lot of thought to local church membership, and it doesn't seem right to us. We want to be - need to be - with Christians, and denominational churches are about the only games in town, but we don't want to be denominational Christians. We just want to be Christians, period!"
"But if membership is the only way you can participate... " began Evalyn.
"But don't you see how wrong that is?" interrupted Beverly. “Why should we sign a pledge to join other Christians praising God? There's absolutely nothing scriptural about that!"
Everyone was quiet. "There's more to it," continued Harry. "Your church pledge isn't as restrictive as some - you don't ask us not to drink or dance or smoke, like some do - but it still asks us to give up some of our freedoms in Christ. It pledges us to support this church, both financially and with our presence, and implies a certain submission to pastor and church elders. Well, right now we do feel a commitment to you and to this church. We've felt welcome, and we feel that God wants us here, now. We know church facilities need upkeep, and feel that our money should support this church, while we're here. But, Josh, we don't feel any special allegiance to this church or this denomination. Our allegiance is to the people who are in the church who, like us, are trying to grow as individuals and as parts of the Body of Christ. But if God calls us to another church tomorrow, I want to be ready to go. If God tells me He wants my money for some other reason than supporting this church, I want no doubts or questions about where our responsibilities lie. Only God can tell me what to eat or drink, what to wear, and how to worship. I don't need to take any special vows to be a Christian, and I won't!"
***
"I think he's right," Josh said to Evalyn, when they were in bed.
"About not joining the church?"
"Uh huh. It is a stupid rule. Why should a Christian have to be a member of our church to lead others in praising the Lord?"
Evalyn didn't respond.
"I guess there's nothing we can do," he continued. "It's a dumb rule, but it's our rule. I don't think it would be right to break it; there's too much at stake, now."
She cuddled close to him. "Tonight didn't go as easy as we thought, did it?"
"If you mean we may have some problems trying to serve both God and man... "
"That's what I mean."
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