It's Official

It’s official. I am not a Free Will Southern Baptist.

Now, this doesn’t really come as a shock. I was not entirely comfortable there from the get-go, even though I couldn’t put my finger on exactly why. But sometimes changing things up is a good way to help you understand what you really do believe, and for that, this was a very effective few weeks.

Each Sunday morning, I watch the pews fill up with kind and loving people. I peek around the sanctuary while we’re singing and see joy in upturned faces and outstretched hands. At the end of each service, when those who are struggling are invited to come down to the altar, I see people so open about their brokenness or need that they come to kneel at the foot of the cross, and within seconds they are surrounded by caring friends or family who lay hands and pray. It is way out of our comfort zone, but nonetheless very moving. So, the people are not the reason we are still searching.

The worship services are like performances. Video presentations on three huge screens over the altar, erupting applause after each praise song, and the pastor, mic hooked on his ear, walking back and forth, animatedly explaining the day’s scripture. He chooses what we study each week not from some greater church body or calendar, but from his own mind or inspiration, so we’re not necessarily studying the same thing as any other Baptist that week. The sermons seem to be less an act of worship inspired by God and more a lesson to be taught by our Pastor. But, the messages so far have been about service to our brothers and love in our words, and we have found ourselves reflecting on those sermons from time to time throughout the week. The worship service is out of our comfort zone, but is nonetheless teaching us something. So, the services are not the reason we are still searching.

The church bulletin this week included a call to congregants to join a group traveling by bus to our state capitol for a political demonstration. In our first church home, we were led by a minister who never used his pulpit as a place to tell us what our politics should be, and it helped to define our priority to keep our politics our of our church. And, we understand that the organized event of a few congregants doesn’t necessarily define the beliefs of everybody. So, while this event is way out of our comfort zone, it’s still not the reason we are still searching.

The reason we are still searching is this: We were in church for two hours the weekend before Ash Wednesday, and not a word was spoken by anyone about the beginning of Lent.

No Lent.

This is a bee that I just can’t get out of my bonnet.

We are about to enter the most important season of our Christian lives. Certainly the one that most defines us – the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And I can’t help being annoyed that yesterday we missed an opportunity to get our family ready for it.

Back home, the Ash Wednesday service was my favorite of the whole year. We were given the opportunity to take our sins and turn them to ash, to ask for forgiveness, to repent. We always walk out of that service feeling like we’ve got another chance to do better. Then, for the next forty days our little family focuses on sacrifice; as we face our minor discomforts missing whatever thing it was we gave up for Lent, we are able to discuss what Jesus did for all of us as he approached that cross.

As parents, we get a crack at teaching our kids something important, something really meaningful about why we’re Christians. Which is not to give us a framework to decide whom to accept and whom to judge, rather, it’s a way to teach them that we are all imperfect, yet all worthy of Christ’s love.

So, as wonderful as this church may be, I now have my tangible reason to back up the nagging feeling. No Lent. And I’m looking for a good Ash Wednesday service to take the family to, so we can prepare to begin Easter season in a way that is more in our comfort zone.