The Long Road Back

Published on June 13, 2007 By Gideon MacLeish In Religion

A week ago last Sunday, for the first time in months, we went to church.

And in doing so, in many ways, we closed one chapter of our lives and opened another.

See, ever since I first became a Christian many years ago, I have wanted nothing more than a family. The mythological family that many churches profess and that was modeled in the early church, but which remains nothing more than a pleasant urban legend to most of us. I walked in church after church, looking for that family.

In some churches I found it. In others, not. See, I am a misfit, I just don't belong. My heavy lean towards the social gospel just doesn't sit well in the conservative churches, and my more literal interpretation (although not completely so) doesn't endear me to the liberal churches. And I've never felt comfortable in liberal churches, despite the fact that almost without exception they have taken pains to welcome me. Similarly, I've always been drawn to conservative churches despite the fact that the vast majority of them have wanted nothing to do with me.

Take our recent encounter with the local Baptist church. I didn't belong in that church. I realize that now. I'm not welcome, and I was a fool for trying to fit in in a church that bluntly didn't want me. It was idiocy at its finest, and in a way I deserved some of the nastiness and bitterness that came back to me because I was too stupid to take a hint. It's a mistake I do not intend to soon repeat.

I'm not bitter about it anymore, although it took a lot of in depth self examination to get to that point. It's their church, has been their church long before I got there, and will be their church long after. It was rude of me to intrude.

So, after some reluctance, we decided that the only place we belong, the only church where we truly are at home, is the one church that consistently does the things we feel Christ would do, that actually cares for the less fortunate and acts on that concern. The Salvation Army. While I'm not 100% in line with their doctrine, I AM 100% in line with their actions. And the more I live, the more I am convinced that actions DO speak louder than words, that the sincere hearts of believers can overcome minor doctrinal issues.

Comments

Jythier

on Jun 13, 2007

What is the social gospel?

Locamama

on Jun 13, 2007

My church participates in many charities and gives 10% of the collection to charity. That fact alone makes me feel like they are truly walking the walk not just talking the talk. It was an adjustment because it is so different from the Catholic church but I really like it there now. I still haven't become a member yet though. I am going to a Unity Church and I like that they are open minded and non-judgemental. That was one of my biggest problems with most of the churches we went to, the whole we're going to heaven because we worship the "right" way and everybody else is going to burn in hell. I believe in a fair and loving God and I don't think He's just itching to send the heathens to everlasting damnation.

I hope you have found the place you belong. It is a struggle sometimes to find that place.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jun 13, 2007

I'm glad you like the SA, Gid, but they've never, EVER, done a damn thing for me, and I've approached them quite a few times in my past. They'd rather send some kid to camp than provide a sack of groceries, they treat their paid employees like crap, and the only assistance I've ever recieved from them was a couple of phone numbers and the instructions to call somebody else.

I've learned through the years no church is perfect, LW. I can't speak to your particular circumstances; while I've seen poorly run congregations of the SA, I've seen well run ones as well. The philosophy it is built on, though, is one I can agree with.

As for Catholic charities, I've seen good and bad among those as well. And every one of the criticisms you levelled...EVERY one, I've seen levelled at various Catholic parishes.

I guess where I'm at is that I can't keep looking for the perfect church, just the LEAST imperfect one in the community where we live. I'm quite drawn to the Quakers and the Mennonites, but the nearest Mennonite fellowship is 80 miles away, and I have no idea where I'd go to find a Quaker fellowship around here.

KFC Kickin For Christ

on Jun 13, 2007

I'd like to think you'd be very welcome in our church as well Gid, but you seem to indicate you were "pushing" something maybe outside of their doctrine? What is your definition of the Social Gospel? I'm not quite sure myself what you mean.

I think a huge part of any local body is the leadership. It trickles down to the body. The leadership makes or breaks a congregation.....maybe that's why Christ addressed the leaders in his letter to the seven churches in Revelation.

Have you checked the Calvery Chapel Organization Gid? That kind of sounds like a good fit for you....not sure but seems so.

I was pretty shocked to read LW's assessment of Salvation Army. I never saw them in this light although I admit I've had virtually no dealings with them. I'll have to check around here to see if it's universal. Their defence of the Boy Scouts endeared me to them some years back.

Shovelheat

on Jun 13, 2007

I've found the SA here to be very helpful. I've called upon them many times to help transients passing through and they've never failed to do all they could (with what they had) for them. My uncle, who despised the Red Cross after his experiences in WWII Europe said that the SA was the only organization that helped the common soldier. From my point of view I've seen a lot of good things from the SA.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jun 13, 2007

I'd like to think you'd be very welcome in our church as well Gid, but you seem to indicate you were "pushing" something maybe outside of their doctrine?

I don't "push" doctrines in a church, KFC. I am not a pastor, and do not purport to be, and I always ALWAYS respect the authority of the church. Such discussions are healthy academically, but in the context of small group discussions, NOT in the context of worship/Sunday School.

The social gospel is essentially that we are our brother's keeper, that we are responsible for caring for the poor and needy. Unfortunately it has been often misappropriated into the political arena, but that is not universally true.

As for CC, while I respect them, I believe it's pretty clear that's not the direction God is leading us. We looked at the idea of home fellowships, as you know, and there just is not the connection with the CC group in Amarillo that would make that a viable solution. I'm not a pastor, and I don't pretend to be, and so I would need a pretty strong level of support that is, frankly, not there.

The Salvation Army has as its other plus the fact that they take misfits.

I don't believe a church has the right to "pick and choose" who they want to worship in the church. And while I need to be a part of a fellowship, I think I'm done with churches who do pick and choose. How can we be witnesses when our churches are little more than exclusive country clubs?

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