Church posted 11/29/2008 7:57:32 PM | 4 kudos what's this?     report abuse

sloriver

Mr. Todd pulled out of his drive in his new pickup truck and stopped in front of our house. He was rich by our standards and a ride in the pickup was something of a luxury. It happened each Sunday. Mr. Todd was our landlord and in that day in Northern Mississippi, he was several steps above us socially. He probably wouldn’t have been seen with us other than going to church. All that aside, he was a kind man and concerned himself with our souls.

We drove four miles to Flatrock Baptist Church where we children attended Sunday school while the Adults chatted and visited. When Sunday school was done, we all went into the church, sat in the hard wooden pews, and listened to an hour-long fire and brimstone sermon. In summer, the windows were opened and the screens dusted so they would let in more air. In winter, the potbellied stove would be fired up and fed constantly until the sermon started. Firewood was provided by members of the congregation. Cookies, pies, cakes, and any other specialty a member was proud of were brought to share after the service. When the church needed repair the congregation pitched in to get it done. The cemetery was fenced and attended by members also. If there was a community emergency, the church was the command center. However, as in any other church the collection plate was passed around. It passed by me and if I were the lucky kid who’s turn it was I got to drop in the family contribution.

That old church was one room. It sat on its hill with its faded paint and grassy parking lot and saved countless souls. It’s weather beaten siding saw every wedding and every funeral procession as they left in exultation or in deep sadness at the loss of another member. It was just a little one-room church that was the equal of any cathedral. No church ever served its congregation better.

I went to visit that old church and my ancestors who are buried in its cemetery just a few months ago. It has gone the way of progress. There’s a new chapel and classrooms. There are outbuildings for Sunday school classes and meetings. There’s a chain link fence around the cemetery, now maintained by contract. The parking lot is paved. There’s a fancy glass enclosed sign at the highway announcing times of services and the minister’s name. The sermon is more often than not concerned, at least partially, with tithes. It takes a lot of money to run such a fine church. Now the people don’t volunteer to do the repairs. It’s hired out. The pews are padded and central air purrs on the sleepy congregation as the minister speaks into the microphone. Souls get saved and community emergencies are handled there. Nothing has changed except appearances.

Last year my brother bought a house in a little town in Kentucky. It’s a poor town with very little industry and a poor tax base. The school offers only state required courses and can’t support sports or the arts. Tax referendums are defeated and the school deteriorates year by year. In this same town, there are five large masonry churches with outbuildings, auditoriums, paved parking lots and all the amenities. I’m talking huge impressive structures. If they were filled each Sunday, they would have to recruit members from out of town. So I wonder what’s right about this situation.

Don’t churches have a moral obligation to assure the welfare of the children in the community? Are we only worried about the souls of our oldest members? Is it necessary to appear so extravagant in our worship while our children lose the opportunity to compete in the world they will live in? Can a church, whether it’s Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or Hindu be so interested in such a show of the “Glory of God” that they will take the resources of the community away from the school?

I think the answer is no. We cannot make religion big business, taking the resources needed for the future of children. Our souls can be saved in a one-room church with hard wooden pews. Perhaps faster than in the luxury of padded pews and conditioned air. God hears our prayers if we say them in the garage just as well as in the Cathedral. I don’t think God wants the children to be denied.

That’s what I have against organized religion. It’s self interested. Give my tithes to the school district. I’ll get to heaven just as fast as you.

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